Bookies strike against BHB charges

Bookmakers went on strike at Lingfield on Saturday in protest over the British Horseracing Board’s proposed increase in its charges for data rights.

No starting prices were returned after the first race and some off-course bookmakers settled bets on the winner, Sounds Lucky at Tote odds. Others declared bets void, while a few returned money to the losers.

The BHB is demanding payment, starting 1 April, of 10% on gross profits from bookmakers in return for the data provided by the BHB.

Bookmakers claim this will increase their costs four-fold. It is estimated that bookmakers’ expenses for a day at the races are about £300.

Robin Grossmith, chairman of the Rails Bookmakers Association, said there may well be more industrial action to follow.

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