British racing is holding a one-day strike next week for the first time in its history in a tax dispute with the government.

All four race meetings on September 10 are cancelled in protest at the government's proposal to raise online racing betting tax from 15% to the same level as casino and gaming at 21%.

The Labour government is desperately seeking to raise revenues to bolster Britain's parlous finances.

The sport's governing body the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) claim "one single rate would have devastating consequences ...on an industry which is worth GBP4.1 billion ($5.5 billion) to the UK economy".

The BHA will learn how effective their lobbying has been when British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves announces her budget on November 26.

The government's plan has angered all sectors of the racing industry and AFP Sports offers a sample of the bitterness felt:

The British training great told AFP the measure would hit rural areas especially hard as there will be less demand at the sales and result in less horses being........

© International Business Times