British horse racing announced a strike due to Rachel Reeves' tax plans.

Races in the UK cancelled due to strike

According to The Sun: Today, on Wednesday, there will be no races in the UK. The sport announced a strike in protest against the possible tax hike.

Races scheduled in Lingfield, Carlisle, Uttoxeter, and Kempton have been cancelled.

Industry leaders will go to Westminster to influence the Labour Party government as part of the campaign 'Abolish Race Tax'.

This unprecedented step, a refusal of all competitions for one day, is caused by the threat of new tax increases.

Chancellor Reeves is considering the possibility of increasing the rate of tax on race bets.

Rates are currently taxed at 15%, but the government plans to raise this rate to 21% to 'harmonize' it with taxes on online games.

Industry representatives have clearly stated that such a hike could have catastrophic consequences for a sport that is a crucial part of British culture.

The consequences could be devastating for all levels of racing, from local events to major festivals.

There are still serious concerns about the growth of the informal market, where players cannot count on payouts even if they win.

The British Racing Association predicts that due to the increase in the tax rate, the sport will lose £330 million over the next five years, with more than 2,700 people likely losing their jobs in the first year.

Sun Racing commentator Matt Chapman noted that the tax increase could have dreadful consequences, and new BHA chairman Lord Allen should take urgent action.

We hope the strike will draw attention to this important issue.

Rescheduled events

Events in Lingfield have been rescheduled to September 8 (day).

Events in Carlisle have been rescheduled to September 9 (evening).

Events in Uttoxeter have been rescheduled to September 11 (evening).

Events in Kempton have been rescheduled to September 15 (evening).

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The strike at UK races is a strong signal about the seriousness of the situation in the industry and the sector's readiness to fight for its rights. The government should listen to the opinions of society and athletes, as this issue affects not only racing but also the cultural traditions of the country. How events will develop further will be shown by time, but already it is clear that the consequences could be extremely serious for the entire sector.