Horse racing’s strike over tax

BRITAIN’S horse racing industry is going on strike in protest over plans for a betting tax hike in this autumn’s Budget.

- By Christian Calgie Senior Political Correspondent

Four meetings in September will be scrapped amid fears the proposed change will badly hit horse racing funding.

Events binned include races at Carlisle, Uttoxeter in Staffordshire and Kempton and Lingfield Park in Surrey, and could cost the industry up to £700,000 in lost revenue.

The British Horseracing Authority is leading the charge against plans to raise taxes on race betting from 15% to 21%, bringing it in line with other forms of online gambling.