While horse racing has been active in the UK for many decades there are some who claim that US has the most attractive and lucrative horse racing industry, highlighted by the fact that the Breeders Cup Classic in the US, being held tonight, will see $5 million at stake. There is no race in the UK which can live with that or get any where near. But does this make US racing the best in the world?
There are many in the world who would counter that claim with the fact that the UK offers the most variation available in the sport, is raced upon natural grass whereas the US races tend to favour dirt tracks and the UK gambling market is as lucrative as any market anywhere in the world – once the size of countries have been taken into consideration. So what is missing in the UK sport? Why does it lag behind so much on prize money?
The UK industry needs to attract big corporates to more and more horse racing tracks and encourage more sponsorship. However, until the UK government give the industry the same assistance as the US authorities and the tax breaks of Ireland it will struggle. The base is there, the trainers are ready and the punters have been loyal for many years.
