Levy Board and Racing Foundation agree £22million support package for racing

‘This is a substantial undertaking by the Levy Board in conjunction with the Racing Foundation’.

An immediate GBP 22 million package to support British racing during the coronavirus outbreak has been agreed between the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Racing Foundation.

With racing on hold indefinitely, the organisations, in conjunction with parties within British racing, have worked with the objective of “providing timely funds where they are most needed, whilst also ensuring the contributions are made in an accountable and sustainable manner which is in line with the objectives of both organisations”.

The HBLB’s contribution focuses on racecourses, with the Racing Foundation centring on hardship issues faced by racing’s participants, both human and equine.

Both bodies will contribute to a loan fund for racecourses, with a GBP 13.5m cash sum available to tracks and up to GBP 8m for the sport’s participants.

Paul Darling, chairman of HBLB, said: “This is a substantial undertaking by the Levy Board in conjunction with the Racing Foundation.

“The board has agreed to make available significant sums to racecourses through a combination of measures that will meet the demand for cash in the short-term.

“Importantly, this approach preserves further levy funds that we know will be needed for prize money when racing resumes.

“It is certain that the Levy Board will have a major role at that stage and beyond.

“Negotiating the many challenges ahead of us all will require exceptional co-operation between every sector. Those challenges can only be met if British racing and the betting industry work in partnership and the Levy Board will play a full and active part in ensuring that this happens.”

Ian Barlow, chairman of the Racing Foundation, added: “The trustees of the foundation agreed that during this exceptional time the organisation should not be bound by its normal endowment rules and be prepared to bring forward future years’ expenditure, while utilising some of its capital, to support the emerging needs of the sport.

“The funding requests we have received are varied and we want to take an approach which can help alleviate the immediate hardship being felt by the sport’s people, horses, businesses and charities.

“Through close and continued collaboration both organisations will seek to meet the immediate hardship needs presented to us and ensure necessary funds are in place to commence racing and support the sport in the months ahead.”

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