BHA concedes parliamentary debate unlikely to lead to policy change on affordability checks
Upcoming debate among MPs to be held this month as horseracing regulator says event has been key in raising awareness and fighting the sport’s corner
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has conceded the upcoming parliamentary debate on affordability checks is unlikely to result in an “immediate change to government policy”.
In a blog on the regulator’s site, penned by policy and advocacy manager Jack Barton, the BHA said the debate will instead serve as a “useful exercise in raising awareness”.
The debate has been pencilled in after the Jockey Club CEO Nevin Truesdale’s petition to scrap the controversial checks broke the 100,000 signatures barrier last year.
Set to be held on 26 February, the debate represents a significant moment for opposition to the checks, which have been a point of contention since the release of the white paper in April.
The BHA said the looming debate was an opportunity to engage with MPs, and that it represented the “strength of feeling from racing fans who feel their hobby is being unjustly targeted”.
The regulator revealed that Racecourse Media Group has sent almost 4,000 letters to MPs ahead of the debate.
In the blog, Barton said: “Following confirmation that the debate would take place on Monday 26th February, there has been a concerted effort across racing to contact MPs to highlight the event and encourage them to engage with it.
“We view the debate as an important moment for our ongoing work – carried out by the industry since formal proposals for the implementation of affordability checks appeared in the white paper in the spring of 2023 – to highlight our opposition to the current proposals given the potential unintended consequences for British racing, and the impact on the customer experience for racing bettors.
“The number of MPs who have told us that they will attend on the 26th is steadily ticking upwards – and importantly, with a few new faces – and the BHA will continue to work with stakeholders to make sure that every effort is made to get MPs to attend and contribute.”
Additionally, the BHA said that it had commissioned Regulus Partners to produce “more detailed modelling” on the impact of affordability checks.
The BHA said the findings would be a “powerful tool” for defending rural communities that rely on the racing industry.
Barton concluded: “Inevitably, much of this work must take place in the corridors of power and will only be visible to those at the heart of government or those at senior levels in the sport.
“But we are frequently reminded by politicians and officials when we meet them that when the BHA galvanises a cross-industry effort our voice is heard loud and clear.”
Elsewhere, EGR spoke to the Gambling Commission’s Tim Miller to garner his thoughts on the measures amid the growing scrutiny.