Nick Timothy, the MP for West Suffolk, met stud farmers and veterinary surgeons in Newmarket last week to hear about their experiences and hopes for the future of the horseracing industry.
Members of the Newmarket Stud Farmers Association (NSFA) chatted with Mr Timothy about the serious challenges facing the sport, and said urgent action was required by the Government to tackle these.
Those at the meeting expressed the strong view that Newmarket would be all the poorer without a prosperous breeding industry.
They said it was vital that thoroughbred horses should be able to move easily across borders. This, they added, was essential to maintaining the industry’s viability against strong competition from Ireland and France.
The meeting discussed the importance of confirming that ‘high health’ horses – such as thoroughbreds – will not be subject to border checks once these are implemented for live animals. Mr Timothy quizzed the Government’s Rural Affairs Minister, Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner, on this topic in the House of Commons earlier this month (if you would like to view the question and the response, please click here).
Commenting after his visit to the NSFA (which took place on Friday 21 February), Mr Timothy said: “It was useful to be able to hear directly from stud farmers and others connected with the breeding sector about how they see the present commercial environment, and the obstacles facing the sport overall.
“Newmarket’s stud farmers work hard to create jobs and generate income for our area at the same time as rearing magnificent thoroughbred horses which are the envy of the world. British racehorses – as well as being at the centre of the second most popular sport in the UK – are also one of our proudest international exports.
“Yet British horseracing faces a clear and live threat because of its shaky financial foundation. We need Ministers to address this. Firstly, it is essential to ensure the smooth movement of high-health, high-welfare thoroughbreds across borders.
“And secondly, we need decisive action to tackle invasive affordability checks that drive punters into illegal betting. Finally, the Horserace Betting Levy should be applied to all global bets on the sport by British customers and it should be increased to support more competitive prize money and enable better investment.
“The breeding, bloodstock and training sectors are all essential to our area’s special character and to thousands of local jobs. I will continue to do all I can to champion them in Westminster.”
Note to Editors:
In excess of 4,500 mares visit the 37 stallions which NSFA Members stand at their stud farms during the breeding season, from February to the end of May.
The NSFA is made up of some 70 Members whose farms size ranges from 50 acres to in excess of 2,500 acres, as well as two of the world’s leading equine hospitals with over 100 Veterinary surgeons, ancillary services, farriers (over 50), forage merchants, equine physiotherapists, legal services, advertising agents and bloodstock merchants.