RACING needs to go to war with Government.
Enough is enough.
Our past, present and future – do not let this Government destroy our beautiful sport Credit: Paul Edwards
The question is does the sport have the leadership or inclination to do so?
And that’s a huge question.
You might think I’m being extreme.
You might think diplomacy is always a better way forward than confrontation.
If you do, you are part of the problem.
We are way beyond that.
Horseracing is under attack in Great Britain.
Royal Ascot.
Most read in Horse Racing
The Classics.
Cheltenham.
The Grand National.
All threatened by a government which couldn’t care two hoots about ruining the second most watched sport in the country and one that should be a thriving, positive industry for all.
Our Prime Minister Andy Burnham thinks it’s cool to sit in a pub and drink alcohol.
But he doesn’t want you to gamble.
And he doesn’t seem to care about the illegal sites people have turned to in order to wager.
Why?
If you need to ask yourself that then quite simply you are exactly the gullible type of person the country and Burnham relies on for support.
You see, politicians like Burnham believe that drinking and pubs are more popular with the public than betting shops and gambling.
To a certain extent he might be right.
But that’s not the point.
There’s nothing logical in Burnham’s thinking.
And that’s why there is no point trying to chat to him or his party about his clear aim to erase the gambling industry and thus cause chaos for the Sport of Kings.
Gambling harm is conservatively estimated to cost the UK economy each year between £1billion and £1.7bn.
Of course, much of that has nothing to do with horse racing.
Alcohol harm is in the region of £27bn.
But Burnham hasn’t said he’ll ban alcohol, has he?
The hypocrisy is incredible.
Politicians don’t make logical decisions.
They make political decisions which are all about being popular and getting re-elected.
It is simply a calculation – nothing more and nothing less.
It’s trendy for those with power in this country to challenge gambling.
Most of them don’t understand the industry.
Even those given the job of looking out for it – a classic example being the Gambling Commission – have little knowledge of the game at all and even less of betting.
The quango is a sham.
This week the Lords were the latest to join in the fun.
Their House of Lords Liaison Committee followed up a July 2020 report by suggesting there should be a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising, although it should be stated deep in the press release was a suggestion horse racing would be exempt.
No advertising, no terrestrial TV coverage.
A sport which would decline quickly.
Horseracing and greyhound racing are going to be sacrificial lambs in Burnham’s war on high street gambling if the sport’s leaders – headed by the BHA – don’t pull their finger out and fast.
This is a sport sleepwalking into a disaster.
Few in it seem to really believe or understand the catastrophe that is around the corner.
There’s no more time for polite chats.
Racing now must kick up a stink about how increasing machine gaming duty will destroy the horseracing industry.
Owners, trainers and racegoers need to send letter after letter to their MPs.
The message has to be shouted in every newspaper, not just by me here.
And from there to the broadcast media.
My information is that Burnham and his Government will be happy to take on bookmakers and the Betting & Gaming Council.
But they do not want a war with horseracing.
So let’s take on Government in the knowledge the sport is hugely popular, supports over 85,000 jobs, is a world leader and contributes roughly £300million annually in direct tax revenue to HM Treasury not to mention an overall annual economic windfall of £4.1bn.
Saturday’s racing in Scotland takes centre stage thanks to the Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Handicap over 6f and live on ITV3.
I think CANDY is massively over-priced.
The colt’s form over 6f with juice in the ground reads 1141 and those figures include a fourth at Ascot in a 19-runner handicap and his success in last year’s Ayr Silver Cup.
We can only hope stall 15 is a good spot and he’s just 5lb higher than his success last year with a lovely racing weight of 8st 13lb.
A decent eachway bet.
Richard Spencer trains and Ryan Sexton has been handed the ride, with the horse getting a first-time hood.
Over at Newbury if all eight runners go to post I’d also hazard a guess NABATI has tremendous place claims at least in the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes.
He’s 3lb better off for a neck defeat by likely hot favourite Arapaho Gold.
On and off the track, it’s time to go to battle.
Good luck!
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Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chases their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
