Horse racing in France will come to a halt on Thursday, Nov. 7 as industry associations and participants protest the Government's plan for additional taxation of horse racing bets integrated into the Social Security Finance Bill for 2025 currently being discussed by Parliament. 

Following the filing of the new amendment by the government on Oct. 28 providing for an increase in taxation on horse racing bets, France Galop, la Société d'encouragement à l'Élevage du Trotteur Français (SETF) and Fédération des Courses Hippiques (FNCH) issued a joint statement, which appears below via a translation.

"The horse racing industry denounces the government's deadly choice to increase taxes on horse racing bets and calls for the immediate withdrawal of the amendment proposed today, which jeopardizes the activity of several hundred agricultural players, breeders and trainers.

"This desire does not take into account the reality of horse racing betting, which is not a classic game of chance because it finances an entire agricultural sector: an increase in taxation means a drop in income for farmers, and it is a mechanical risk of a drop in activity and job losses.

"The horse racing industry, already in difficulty due to a decrease in horse racing betting, will not be able to cope with a further drop in its only source of funding."

The associations noted that the proposed tax increase would result in estimated losses of 80 million Euros, directly affecting breeders and trainers.

A call for a demonstration has been issued by trotting and flat racing's professional associations and unions to obtain, firstly, the withdrawal of any measure to increase taxation on horse racing bets and, secondly, the support of the government on the projects to develop new horse racing games.

The strike will take place on Nov. 7 and has prompted cancellations of racing at the Vincennes and Marseille-Borély racecourses and qualifying at Le Mans racecourse.

The associations are calling on all of its members and stakeholders in the equine sector to join this demonstration in Paris.

(With files from SETF)