The only precedents for the cancellation of races in France date back to the world wars and more recently to the Covid period. The industry was alarmed last week by a government amendment to the draft social security budget providing for an increase in taxation on games and betting, particularly horse racing.
The Minister of the Budget, Laurent Saint-Martin, declared on Sunday that he “did not (want)” this taxation and the next day, the amendment was rejected by the National Assembly.
But for organizations, the threat of increased taxation has not been ruled out. “Although the government's amendment aimed at increasing taxation on horse racing betting has been rejected, it is essential to maintain pressure on the government,” indicate the organizations including France Galop and the Société du trotteur français in a statement on Wednesday .
“This subject risks being presented again to the Senate or at any other time in the budget adoption process and races should not be a variable in budgetary adjustment,” they continue.
The sector is planning a demonstration in Paris on Thursday afternoon, between Place Denfert-Rochereau in the 14th arrondissement and Place Vauban, behind the Invalides.
“Trainers, breeders, stable and stud staff, jockeys, we are all taking to the streets to say how much this tax wanted by the government and Parliament endangers our jobs and the life of our sector” warns Thibault Lamare in a press release , trainer of trotters and spokesperson for professionals in the horse racing industry. “If it passes, the vast majority of us will lose a month's salary from January,” he laments.
Horses in the procession
If for security reasons, the demonstrators will not travel on horseback, there will be a few horses on site, notably with the Italian equestrian stuntman and trainer Mario Luraschi.
To allow everyone to come and demonstrate, the sector, which expects 5,000 people on Thursday, “was forced to make an unprecedented decision: cancel all the races of the day”, specifies a press release. There should have been around 25 races in three racecourses, which will be closed, an “effort” that the industry estimates at 3 million euros. PMU fans will therefore not be able to bet.
The amendment provided for an increase in the tax from 6.9% to 7.5% on gross gaming revenue from horse racing bets placed in the physical network (PMU, racecourses) and from 6.9% to 15% for bets online, measures that the sector estimates at “35 million euros per year”.
“It is an amendment which makes it possible to harmonize taxation on the gross product of games”, indicated Tuesday the Minister of the Budget Laurent Saint-Martin, questioned on the subject by the deputy of Mayenne Géraldine Bannier (Les Démocrates) during the question session to the government.
Recalling that “the PMU finances the agricultural life of our country to the tune of 600 million euros per year”, the minister assured: “we need these players, the equine sector, and we want to protect it. »
“We gave a favorable opinion to the subamendment allowing taxation to be stabilized at 7% and not beyond for physical or online horse racing betting,” he continued.
For her part, Géraldine Bannier underlined that “the current ecosystem is virtuous: 75% of the stakes are returned to the players and 16% are used to finance the sector, supporting the ecosystem of breeders, trainers, owners, jockeys…”.
