On November 7, all horse racing meetings in France were canceled due to industry strikes. The French government had proposed a tax on racing to fund a shortfall in the social security budget, sparking widespread anger within the industry. The proposed taxes were estimated to cost the industry between €20m to €50m, in addition to the €951m it already contributes.
The original budget did not include gambling taxes on horse racing, but a late amendment introduced an increase in online racing betting tax from 7.9% to 15%, as well as a 0.6% increase on physical betting shops. This decision led to immediate protests from the industry. However, the issue was ultimately dropped from the budget after being defeated in the National Assembly.
Despite the reprieve, protests were still planned to demonstrate the industry’s general sentiment and prevent any potential reintroduction of the taxes as the budget process continued. A demonstration against the tax was scheduled in Paris on November 7, with a call for a general boycott and participation from punters, trainers, bookmakers, and others involved in gambling.
In a joint statement released by France Galop and Société du Trotteur Français, it was emphasized that pressure on the government and elected representatives must be maintained, as the issue could resurface during the budget adoption process. The statement urged industry members to join a protest on November 7 to defend horseracing and protect their jobs.
Overall, the cancellation of horse racing meetings in France on November 7 was a result of industry strikes sparked by proposed taxes on racing. Despite the taxes being dropped from the budget, protests and demonstrations were planned to maintain pressure on the government and protect the interests of those involved in the racing industry.