Cancellation of horse races this Thursday, November 7

There will be no horse racing in France this Thursday, November 7, the day of the horse racing industry's demonstration against the proposed surcharge on horse racing betting initially included by the government in the Social Security financing bill ( PFLSS).

A day without a race is very rare in France since only the two World Wars and the Covid have stopped them in history. This will therefore be the case this Thursday, November 7 during the horse racing industry's day of demonstration against the proposed surcharge on horse racing betting initially included by the government in the Social Security financing bill (PFLSS). As a reminder, the government tabled an amendment on Monday, October 28 as part of the Social Security financing bill (PFLSS) aimed at increasing the tax on gross proceeds from gambling and games of chance from 6.9 % to 7.5% for bets registered in the physical network (PMU points of sale for example) and from 6.9 to 15% for bets registered online. A surcharge that would cause the horse racing industry to lose more than 30 million euros in 2025.

The horse racing industry remains mobilized

If this amendment was rejected this Monday, November 4 in the National Assembly (162 voters, 129 expressed, 57 for and 72 against), the horse racing industry remains mobilized because the legislative process is long (the situation can change with in particular the use of 49.3) and is waiting for Prime Minister Michel Barnier to officially commit to renouncing this tax on horse racing betting. “Dead File” Day will therefore take place this Thursday, November 7 in Paris (departure of the event at 12:45 p.m. Place Denfert-Rochereau). Organizers hope to bring together 10,000 people.