British Horseracing Authority calls on government to act because a lot of small racecourses could be forced out of business over the coming year if the horserace betting levy is not reformed. According to BHA, Ludlow, Hereford, Nottingham, Leicester and Folkestone are some of the courses whose future is uncertain.

"The consequences of this will put at risk quite a number of well-loved racecourses and the ongoing viability of trainers and their yards, and all the good that racing does.", said the British Horseracing Authority’s chief executive Nic Coward. Unless the BHA success in its campaign to make the government to overhaul the relationship between bookmakers and horseracing, it will be forced to slash the prize money that is allocated to smaller courses under the formula.

On 2007 the income from levy was about ₤116m, this year it is estimated to be around ₤77m and the BHA says it should be approximately ₤140m if all bets taken on UK races were taken into account. The BHA has argued that the liberations of the gambling market under the Labour government and the failure of the attempt of reestablishing the boundaries of its relationship with horseracing, could be terrible for the sport.

"We are at the crunch point and those solutions have to be applied by the government and the levy Board because bookmakers will continue to exploit the loopholes to their maximum advantage, to the detriment of racing. Racing is a complex endeavour involving many people across the country. In the coming weeks and months we will have to address that. It is that close", said Nic Croward.