Further Arc boycotts could result in £300,000 levy loss
Further proposed boycotts of Arena Racing Company’s (Arc) meetings are estimated to result in a £300,000 loss to the levy, if they are to take place over the next three days, as the current row over prize-money contribution continues to escalate.
In an email seen by the Racing Post, multiple Classic-winning trainer Ralph Beckett recommended to over 500 of his colleagues that trainers should not be making entries to this weeks Fontwell, Lingfield and Southwell meetings
Beckett, who will become the President of the National Trainers Federation next year, emailed trainers on Wednesday. It read: “All of you will know that two races were boycotted by owners and trainers last Saturday at Lingfield, in a protest over prize-money.
“There is a proposal to do the same by not entering for all races at Arc racecourses on 6th, 7th and 8th March.
“Entries for 6th March close at noon tomorrow, 28th February, hence this email. Trainers are already committed to this, if you were unaware, you are now.”
The email concluded: “If you are unhappy with Arc’s contributions to prize-money, then this is your opportunity to vote with your feet.”
Arc has pointed out that the call for further boycotts will not only affect those at Arc-owned courses, but will have widespread implications across the sport. With trainer’s not entering runners, racecards could possibly be reduced, and media-rights deals affected.
The call for further boycotts comes after the reduction in the racecard at Lingfield’s Betway Winter Derby last Saturday, where the meeting was reduced to five races and a walkover.
Trainers are currently protesting the decision made by Arc in December to reduce its prize-money contributions by £3m in response to industry predictions that thousands of betting shops will be forced to close their doors following the FOBT ruling, reducing maximum stakes from £100 to £2.
Beckett made his views clear during an interview on Sunday programme on Racing TV last weekend, saying: “I’m not going to labour the point but we’ve had enough.”
In response to suggestions that Arc may be considering legal action over the boycotts, citing competition law, Beckett responded: “I’d like to see him [Arc chief executive Martin Cruddace] take the trainers to the High Court.”
Negotiations are still ongoing between the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the National Trainers Federation, the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) and Racecourse Association to find a solution to the prize-money situation.
An Arc spokesman said it was concerned that further boycotts had been proposed: “We had hoped that with the guidance of the BHA a resolution could be reached as early as Friday.
“It’s important that all the owners and trainers out there know there is £4.5 million waiting to be allocated to Class 4, 5 and 6 Flat and 3, 4 and 5 jump races at Arc tracks.
“A coordinated boycott of races or fixtures does damage far beyond the racecourse, and will only serve to punish a large number of owners, trainers, jockeys and racing staff along with bookmakers, customers, sponsors, punters and broadcasters.
“Five fixtures lost to boycotts could unnecessarily see a loss to the industry of circa £300,000 in levy income alone. Racecourses require flexibility to invest in their race programme as appropriate, and the talks that are ongoing with horsemen, racecourses and BHA will allow that, hence our desire that agreement is reached without delay.”
Source: SBC News
