On Wednesday, racing takes the unprecedented step of strike action for one day in a bid to support the ‘Axe The Racing Tax’ campaign.

Strikes can divide public opinion but firstly they must gather enough attention of the masses to convey the point the industry is determined to make.

That might be difficult to do given the current volatile political landscape. 

The racing industry is worried that the Chancellor may increase the horseracing betting tax from the current 15 per cent to 21 per cent, bringing it in line with the rate applied to online casinos.

According to the British Horseracing Authority, this potential tax rise could put 2,752 jobs in jeopardy within the industry and result in an annual loss of £66 million for British racing.

Asfoora wins the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, the last big racing festival to take place before the strike

Glorious Goodwood was a damp squib last year but is still a big deal for British racing

Queen Camilla and royaly at racing is a massive selling point for an under-pressure sport

These numbers present a bleak scenario for a sport that is already facing financial challenges. Regulatory measures enforced by the Gambling Commission—such as affordability checks and operator limits—have led to a dramatic £1.6 billion reduction in online betting turnover over the past two years.

The budget announcement is expected in late November, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves likely to increase taxes in order to address the significant public finance deficit, which might reach £40 billion.

Increasing taxes on betting companies, despite causing more trouble for racing, could quickly add £3 billion to public funds. Outwardly, it appears to be a short-term, voter-friendly move that might garner public approval.

However, such a policy lacks foresight and could lead to disenchanted bettors leaving the sport altogether or turning to illegal gambling options.

A recent survey this week reported the black market’s share of the betting industry was rising to nine per cent.

That is money that does not end up in the sport or the Treasury’s coffers. This is the real threat at play.

British racing needs to secure a good deal for itself in the corridors of power but can’t afford to completely alienate bookmakers in the process.

The wider public narrative is winning the argument that gambling is not necessarily a bad thing. Betting on racing is not like casino. There is a larger element of skill in sports punting, while the machine is always fixed in the bookies’ favour long-term.

The sport must use Wednesday to champion itself.

William haggas enjoyed a superb Saturday at Haydock and Ascot and is a class apart

Racing is the second-biggest spectator sport in Britain, with five million people visiting 59 racecourses each year.

It hosts world-class social and sporting events such as Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival. It’s key to local communities in every pocket of the country. It’s a world-leading industry worth £4.1bn to the UK economy and supports 85,000 jobs.

These are the numbers and narratives racing needs to shout loud and proud about. If not, then Wednesday’s strike will have little impact.

HAGGAS MAPS OUT HIS STRING SUPERBLY

What a magnificent trainer William Haggas is. If I was ever fortunate enough to own a high-class Flat horse, he’s the man I’d trust the most to get the very best out of them.

He knows the programme book inside out and brings horses along steadily when ready. Haggas plundered both the prestigious staying handicaps at Haydock yesterday, with a one-two in the Old Borough Cup. And he had three winners at Ascot, too.

Haggas gave Baaeed time to be a superstar by effectively missing out his three-year-old season. Bullet Point won the Clipper Handicap at York’s Ebor Festival and he immediately nominated a target in Australia for the progressive four-year-old.

The campaigning of More Thunder climbing through the ranks has been one of the highlights of the season.

More Thunder (left) won the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket earlier this season 

He runs horses up north to give them as great an education as possible and usually it results in having a lenient handicap mark to go to war with at this stage of the season – watch out for six-furlong sprinter Almareq at York today.

His strike-rate is consistently sensational and he always conducts himself with class when discussing his horses pre-race and post-race with the media.

Haggas is picking up more top-class horses and it’s easy to see why. His timing and judgment is simply immaculate and he’s a credit to racing in this country.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK… Much has been made of an ordinary sprint division but BIG MOJO deservedly picked up a Group One given how consistent he’s mainly been this season in picking up the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Trained by Mick Appleby, William Buick sneaked him up the rail and Big Mojo found very generously for pressure. He was second in the July Cup at Newmarket and a shade underwhelming over five furlongs at Goodwood but the step up in trip was in his favour and he ended up winning decisively.

Big Mojo was a brave winner of the Group One Haydock Sprint Cup

Henri Matisse (black jacket) was third in the Sussex Stakes but can improve on that today

SELECTION OF THE DAY…

HENRI MATISSE (3-1, William Hill) was third in a messy Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood but the French Guineas winner should find things much more suitable at Paris Longchamp today in taking out the Prix Du Moulin (2.50) on Arc Trials day.

He’s well drawn to attack from stall two, while most market principles are parked wider. Christophe Soumillon should be able to have Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old in a good position throughout at a venue he likes.

O’Brien last won this in 2019 with a similar type of three-year-old in Circus Maximus and can strike again in the French capital.