John Gosden was among a number of major figures from the sport who descended on Westminster to protest against a proposed increase in tax on betting
John Gosden has warned that a rise in betting tax would have “very dangerous” consequences for racing as he joined major figures from the sport at a protest in Westminster on Wednesday.
The racing industry has claimed that a government proposal which would ‘harmonise’ online betting taxes by raising the amount of duty on racing and sports betting from 15 per cent to 21 per cent, bringing it into line with games of chance, such as casinos and slots, poses “an existential threat” to its future.
BHA analysis suggests the rise would cost the sport £330million over five years and put 2,750 jobs at risk and as a result the sport went ‘on strike’ for a day with all planned race meetings at Carlisle, Lingfield, Kempton and Uttoxeter cancelled.
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Gosden, one of several speakers at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, said: “The implications are very dangerous. We’re starting from a very weak position and this will take the lifeblood out of the game.
“I have 100 employees and I won’t be able to sustain that. I’ve been able to sustain that number this year, but if this continues the way it is going, I’ll soon be in the situation of laying off 10, 20 or 30 people.
“That would be tragic, I desperately don’t want to be in that position and you’re talking to someone at the top of the tree – imagine how it is for the guys halfway down. If I can see the impact, that means they are already in the grinder.
“We are not asking for anything other than to be left alone, I understand the Government’s position but I think this is something that will rebound.”
Gosden referenced Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, who described the potential change in taxation as “levelling the playing field”.
The Newmarket trainer said: “I understand what he (Tomlinson) means, but he should see the playing field we are on compared to our international competitors. We are in a weak position and this is only going to make us weaker.
“It concerns me greatly, we are in a fragile state already. As a trainer I am losing horses to other dominions because their revenues are far, far higher. British racing is weakened by this continual pattern, people love coming to the big meetings here but we cannot rest on our laurels.
“I would hate to see this industry go the way of others, other industries that we used to excel at but then we neglected them and squeezed the lifeblood out of them.”
Earlier, in Parliament Square, leading riders including Hollie Doyle and champion jockey Oisin Murphy posed for pictures holding an ‘Axe The Racing Tax’ banner.
A decision on any tax change is expected in the Budget on November 26 and while Tomlinson says racing’s role in the “cultural fabric” of Britain is acknowledged, he underlined there has been no announcement yet.
He said: “We know horse racing is part of the cultural fabric of the country, that’s why it’s the only sector that benefits from a government-mandated levy. Our wider gambling consultation is only about levelling the playing field and simplifying the system, and we are working closely with the industry to understand any potential impacts.”
