That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the significant number of livelihoods dependent on horse racing and supports the Racing Cancelled Day, which took place on 10 September 2025; understands that, on this date, no race meetings took place in Britain, as the sport took what it considers is an extraordinary step of refusing to race in protest at the UK Government’s proposed tax rise on horserace betting and believes that this will be the first time that the sport has voluntarily refused to race in its modern history; further understands that this was in protest at the UK Government's reported proposal to harmonise gambling duties, which, it believes, would have a disastrous impact on the sport, costing the industry at least £66 million a year and threatening thousands of jobs up and down the country, from stable staff and farriers to small-town hotels and local pubs; urges everyone to show their support for the racing industry in Scotland, which includes five licenced racecourses and over 25 racehorse training yards; notes reports that Scottish horseracing generates over £300 million per year, supports over 3,400 jobs, and is the catalyst for community events and tourism activities supported by 300,000 racegoers who bring £24.6 million to racecourse’s local economies every year; believes that the proposed harmonisation will significantly inhibit this, and urges the UK Government to back British Racing, reconsider its plans and axe the racing tax.
Supported by:
Miles Briggs, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Edward Mountain, Douglas Ross, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Annie Wells, Brian Whittle