BHA: Still Lacking a Credible Strategy

There’s something very British about the BHA’s plan to fix racing’s troubles by giving MPs a grand day out at the track, hoping that a few winning bets and a dash of champagne will make them champions of the cause. British Horseracing Association (BHA) leaders are counting on the romance of a day at Cheltenham to sweep these MPs off their feet — but let’s not be naïve. The state of British politics today doesn’t exactly scream “substance over style,” and if you’re expecting politicians to turn from indifferent to inspired on the back of a few sandwiches and a day at Newmarket, I have a three-legged favourite at 500-to-1 you might like to back.

If you think Labour is poised to treat racing as a special case, take a good, hard look at how they’ve handled the plight of farmers and GPs in the latest budget. Here we have two groups who are, quite literally, the lifeblood of Britain — farmers feeding the nation and GPs propping up an NHS on the brink. And yet, Labour’s recent “support” for them has been about as uplifting as a wet Tuesday at Lingfield.

Racing’s Fight for Levy Reform: More Than a Day at the Track

Racing’s needs are straightforward but urgent. The Levy — the critical funding mechanism that supports prize pots, rural jobs, and the future of the sport — is in desperate need of a modernisation. Racing’s leaders have been pushing for the inclusion of bets on international races in the Levy, a simple adjustment that could transform racing’s revenue streams. But every time the industry gets close to progress, another political shuffle or snap election kicks it to the kerb.

Now, the BHA has been pulling out all the stops. They’re inviting MPs on behind-the-scenes tours of Newmarket, staging racecourse visits, and even hosting debates in Westminster Hall. But it’s all starting to feel a bit like racing’s on a charm offensive while the government’s already eyeing the exit. If Labour’s response to farmers and GPs is any indicator, racing’s push for special treatment might have all the impact of a whisper in a windstorm.

Farmers and GPs: Shafted in the Latest Budget

For a snapshot of Labour’s commitment to British institutions, let’s start with the farmers. They’re the stewards of the countryside, the feeders of the nation, and they’ve got more heritage in their little finger than any number of flashy think-tanks or PR gurus. Yet Labour’s latest “gift” to farmers is a rise in inheritance tax (IHT), which threatens to rip family farms apart. Passing a farm from one generation to the next, already a Herculean task, has just become a financial quagmire. Family farms may soon be nothing more than a memory, sacrificed on the altar of revenue-raising.

Then there are the GPs. Labour’s minimum wage hikes — paired with a hike in employers’ National Insurance (NI) contributions — mean that rural practices, already scraping by, now have yet another financial hurdle to clear. The myth that growth only comes from public spending runs right through this budget, and it’s GPs and small healthcare practices that are footing the bill. Instead of relieving the NHS, they’re watching their overheads balloon like a punter’s credit card bill on Gold Cup day. The illusion that “growth” comes solely through public investment blinds Labour to the reality that this public spending comes at a cost to real businesses and services, who are forced to either cut back or charge more.

So, if farmers and GPs, two groups who serve critical roles in society, are left out in the cold, what are the chances Labour will embrace horseracing’s plea for a refreshed Levy? It’s starting to look as likely as the Tote turning charitable.

A Day at the Races for MPs: Nice Outing, but Will It Shift the Odds?

Look, I get it. Taking MPs to the track isn’t a bad idea. Who doesn’t like a jaunt in the owner’s box, the fizz flowing, a few canapés to nibble on? And MPs are human, so there’s always a chance that a cheeky punt and a nose-to-tail finish might spark a bit of fondness for racing. But if you really think a day at Ascot will make them rethink their entire budgetary approach, I’ve got a bridge to sell you in Newmarket.

This is a Parliament that can barely be moved to keep farmers and GPs above water, and they’re the ones keeping the NHS and agriculture alive. Racing? In the grand scheme of things, it’s likely to be ranked somewhere between local libraries and allotment budgets. A day out with a glass of Pimms and a nice view from the stands might win a few hearts, but we need a lot more than sentimentality to push through Levy reform and secure the sport’s future.

The Fantasy of Public Investment as a Cure-All

The real problem here is that the government’s vision for growth seems to involve nothing but pumping up public spending, with the belief that jobs and growth will spring forth from subsidies and higher minimum wages. The illusion that public investment is the only path to economic growth blinds policymakers to the strain this approach puts on private industries, racing included. With the government clamping down on disposable income through rising taxes, racing’s betting income is already on shaky ground. Add in financial risk checks, and it’s a recipe for disaster.

Racing needs policymakers who understand that investment doesn’t just mean government spending, and that businesses — whether it’s a GP practice, a farm, or a racecourse — need a break now and then. The BHA’s efforts to woo Parliament are laudable, but they need a government willing to acknowledge the sport’s economic impact, not one intent on squeezing every industry for its pound of flesh.

The Bottom Line: Racing Needs More Than Tea and Sympathy

Ultimately, the idea that a day at the track is going to translate into serious, long-term political support for racing is a pleasant fantasy. Racing’s problems can’t be solved with charm and a few well-placed bets; they need hard policy changes and a Levy that reflects the realities of modern betting. We can’t keep relying on sentimentality and British heritage alone, not when the future of the sport, thousands of rural jobs, and our global standing in racing are all on the line.

The BHA has done a very average job keeping racing’s issues in the conversation. But as farmers and GPs can attest, getting Parliament to actually care enough to act is an entirely different challenge. Labour’s budget showed a stark indifference to rural needs, making it clear that racing is going to have to fight tooth and nail to secure the support it deserves.

So yes, take MPs to the races, let them enjoy the thrill and the culture, but don’t for a second think that Pimms and paddocks will save our sport. Racing needs policy, not pleasantries. And if our political leaders don’t grasp that soon, British racing may find itself left in the dust, outpaced not by rivals on the turf, but by the unyielding march of government indifference.