UK Horse Racing Strike: No Racing Wednesday

For the first time in its modern history, British horse racing will stage a one-day strike on Wednesday, 10 September, in protest against the government’s proposed betting tax changes. With no fixtures taking place, the sport’s leaders hope to send a strong message to Westminster about the potential damage these reforms could cause.

What’s Happening?

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has rescheduled four meetings to create a blank day of racing in the UK. Instead, leading trainers, jockeys and owners will attend a Westminster event to lobby MPs.

The fixtures moved are:

• Lingfield Park → 8 September
• Carlisle → 9 September
• Uttoxeter → 11 September
• Kempton Park → 15 September

Why is Racing Taking Action?

The government is consulting on bringing online betting tax (currently 15%) in line with online gaming (21%). Racing leaders fear that aligning the two would:

• Cut bookmaker promotion and sponsorship of the sport
• Reduce odds and bonuses for punters
• Lower betting turnover, which in turn reduces the Racing Levy – worth over £100m annually to prize money and support.

A report commissioned by the BHA suggests the changes could cost the sport £330m in five years and threaten 2,700+ jobs in year one alone.

Industry Reaction

• Top trainers like Nicky Henderson support the strike, describing the tax as potentially “crippling.”
• The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC), however, criticised the move, claiming operators were not consulted and warning that strikes risk antagonising government and punters alike.

Why It Matters

Horse racing is Britain’s second-largest spectator sport, employing over 85,000 people. By voluntarily shutting down for one day, the industry aims to highlight the real risks of a “one-size-fits-all” tax approach that fails to recognise the distinction between betting on skill-based sports and pure chance casino games.

What Next?

This is a one-off strike, with no further action planned yet. The campaign, under the banner “Axe the Racing Tax”, will continue ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ 26 November Budget, where the industry will learn its fate.

While there’s no UK racing on Wednesday, action resumes later in the week – and you can keep up with the latest picks on our Daily Horse Racing Tips page.