Racing events scheduled for September 10th in the UK are canceled due to protests against a proposed tax increase on the horse racing industry.
In an unprecedented move, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has cancelled all horse racing meetings scheduled for September 10, 2025, marking the first time in modern history that British racing has voluntarily refused to stage races. This dramatic action is a direct response to the UK Government's proposal to increase the tax on horserace betting from the current 15% to 21%, aligning it with the higher rate charged on online casino gambling.
The BHA's "Axe the Racing Tax" campaign is a protest against this tax rise, which the BHA argues would severely damage the horseracing industry financially. The proposed change is part of a shift from a three-tax structure on online gambling to a single tax, a move that the BHA strongly opposes.
The potential consequences of this tax rise are significant. The BHA warns that it could lead to a loss of approximately £330 million in revenue over five years, job losses of around 2,752 in the first year, reduced betting turnover due to higher customer costs, fewer promotions, and lower marketing expenditure. Furthermore, it could make the sport financially unstable, risking £4.1 billion in annual economic contribution and the livelihoods of 85,000 people connected to the sport.
Brant Dunshea, CEO of the BHA, described the cancellation as an "unprecedented decision" taken to urge the Government to reconsider the tax proposal to preserve the future of the sport. Dunshea and others emphasise the importance of horse racing as a cherished part of British heritage and culture.
September 10 is also the day of a major campaign event in Westminster where senior industry leaders, horse owners, trainers, and jockeys will join forces to protest the tax hike proposal. The meetings at Lingfield Park, Carlisle, Uttoxeter, and Kempton Park will be rescheduled.
Industry leaders such as Martin Cruddace, CEO of Arena Racing Company, have emphasised the differences in how gambling and horse racing are regulated, suggesting that tax harmonization doesn't really make sense. Paul Johnson, CEO of the National Trainers Federation, has cautioned that the tax hike would have a profound effect on the British economy, hurting not only the industry but its employees and fans as well.
Jim Mullen, CEO of The Jockey Club, has expressed hope that this unprecedented decision to cancel a race day would make the government consider the damage a tax hike could cause. Johnson called on the government to set an enlightened tax regime that would allow the sport to thrive before it reaches the point of no return.
In summary, the "Axe the Racing Tax" campaign is a coordinated industry effort to oppose a proposed tax increase on horserace betting, and the cancellation of racing on September 10, 2025, serves as a historic strike to bring government attention to the potentially devastating consequences of the tax hike. Horseracing is the UK's second-largest spectator sport, supporting 85,000 jobs and attended by some 5 million people a year. The impact would be exacerbated by operators' response to the tax rises, which could include increased prices, bonus cuts, fewer ads, and lower marketing expenses. If the tax proposal moves forward, the industry forecasts a destructive GBP 330 million revenue hit in the first five years.
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