The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced that no race meetings will take place in Britain on September 10 as a protest against the Government’s proposed tax increase on horserace betting. This marks the first voluntary race cancellation in modern history, with four scheduled meetings at Lingfield Park, Carlisle, Uttoxeter, and Kempton Park being postponed. The protest is part of the ‘Axe the Racing Tax’ campaign, which urges the Government to scrap plans to unify online betting duties into a single higher tax rate, potentially raising the current 15% rate to 21%.

The BHA warns that the proposed tax rise could severely damage the industry, which contributes £4.1 billion to the UK economy, potentially causing a £330 million revenue loss and risking 2,752 jobs within five years. The campaign highlights that bookmakers may respond to the tax increase by raising prices, cutting bonuses, and reducing marketing budgets. Alongside the race cancellations, a major event in Westminster will bring together industry leaders, owners, trainers, and jockeys to emphasize the threat posed by the Treasury’s proposal.