British horseracing is to stage an unprecedented one-day strike on Sept. 10 to protest a proposed rise in taxes on race betting.
The four scheduled meetings that day — at Carlisle, Uttoxeter, Lingfield and Kempton — would not take place after agreements between the owners of the courses and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), making it the first time the sport in Britain has voluntarily refused to race in modern history.
The BHA set up the “Axe the Racing Tax” campaign in response to proposals to replace the existing three-tax structure of online gambling duties with a single tax, with fears the current 15 percent duty on racing could be increased to the 21 percent levied on games of chance.
Photo: Reuters
BHA chief executive Brant Dunshea said the strike intends to “highlight to [the] government the serious consequences of the treasury’s tax proposals which threaten the very future of our sport.”
“British racing is already in a precarious financial position and research has shown that a tax rise on racing could be catastrophic for the sport and the thousands of jobs that rely on it in towns and communities across the country,” he said.
“This is the first time that British racing has chosen not to race due to government proposals. We haven’t taken this decision lightly, but in doing so we are urging the government to rethink this tax proposal to protect the future of our sport which is a cherished part of Britain’s heritage and culture.”
The British government said it was bringing the “treatment of online betting in line with other forms of online gambling to cut down bureaucracy.”
“It is not about increasing or decreasing rates,” the government said. “We welcome views from all stakeholders including businesses, trade bodies, the third sector and individuals.”
Nineteen wickets fell yesterday on an opening day of carnage in the first Ashes Test, with England’s attack led by skipper Ben Stokes bowling them into a position of strength after Australia dismissed the tourists for 172. A rampaging Mitchell Starc took 7-58 to put England on the back foot after Stokes won the toss on a fine day at a packed Perth Stadium and chose to bat. Harry Brook (52) and Ollie Pope (46) offered the only resistance as they crumbled after lunch, but England’s elite fast bowlers, led by an exceptional Stokes with 5-23, fought back to reduce the hosts
Houston’s Calen Bullock on Thursday intercepted reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen twice and the league’s top defensive unit powered the Texans over Buffalo 23-19. Allen was sacked eight times, his most in any game, for 70 lost yards and Bullock’s final pickoff killed the Bills’ last desperate drive with 18 seconds remaining. The Texans, who have allowed the NFL’s fewest points and fewest yards a game this season, shut down Allen, who produced six touchdowns in a victory over Tampa Bay just four days earlier. “The defense stayed disciplined,” Houston’s Danielle Hunter said. “We had a game plan to keep him
Nigeria’s soccer coach has accused the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) of practicing “voodoo” after his squad’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s FIFA World Cup ended in a penalty shoot-out loss in the African playoff final. DR Congo and Nigeria drew 1-1 after extra-time in the tie in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday and the central Africans won 4-3 on penalties to book a place in inter-confederation playoffs in Mexico in March next year. In his post-match remarks to journalists, coach Eric Chelle said a member of the DR Congo team “did some voodoo, every time, every time, every time.” “That
Tyrese Maxey on Thursday scored 54 points to spark the Philadelphia 76ers in a 123-114 overtime victory at Milwaukee, while San Antonio surged late to beat Atlanta. In 47 minutes, star guard Maxey made 18 of 30 shots from the floor, six of 15 from three-point range and 12 of 14 free throws while passing out nine assists and grabbing five rebounds. Milwaukee’s Myles Turner hit a three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining to give the Bucks a 106-104 lead, but Maxey sank two free throws with seven seconds remaining in regulation time to force an extra period. Maxey scored six points in overtime
RSS