The professional golfer and avid horse racing owner Lee Westwood has publicly criticized the dire financial state of British horse racing, warning that the sport’s current economic model is becoming unsustainable.
In a candid assessment, Lee Westwood highlighted a combination of factors that are placing immense strain on owners and threatening the long-term health of the industry, a situation made even more precarious by the looming threat of significant tax changes.
Westwood, who has been actively involved in horse ownership, pointed to the growing disparity between the high costs of keeping a horse in training and the comparatively low prize money on offer in the UK.
He argued that this imbalance makes ownership an increasingly unattractive proposition, which could lead to a drain of talent and investment to more lucrative racing jurisdictions overseas.
This issue, he noted, is further compounded by burdensome affordability checks imposed on bettors.
These checks, while intended to promote responsible gambling, have been criticized for being overly intrusive and are believed to be driving bettors away from the regulated market, thereby reducing the betting levy funds that are a critical financial lifeline for the sport.
His comments come at a particularly sensitive time, with the UK government reportedly considering a substantial increase in the tax on remote betting.
As detailed in related industry warnings, such a tax hike is expected to further depress the betting levy and place additional financial pressure on an already struggling industry.
Westwood’s intervention brings a high-profile voice to the debate, framing the issue not just as a problem for the betting industry but as an existential threat to the future of British horse racing itself.
