Sign in
☰
People MPsHouse of LordsGovernmentOppositionPartiesCommittees Votes Commons votesLords votesVotes by issueTopicsStats & rankingsParliament in numbers Legislation BillsEarly day motionsPetitions Elections Election resultsConstituenciesWho is my MP? Scotland OverviewMSPsScottish GovernmentVotesBillsMotionsCommitteesConstituencies & regionsElections Search Sign in

Motion · S6M-18940 · 16 Sep 2025

Racing Cancelled Day

Lodged by Rachael Hamilton (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party) Standard Motion 23 supporters

The motion

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.

Supporters (23)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.