The long-running disagreement between betting and racing interests in Great Britain over bookmakers' precise financial contributions to the sport assumed a more philosophical tone recently when Keith Brown, chairman of the Racecourse Association, informed bookmakers of their "moral" obligation to horses and jockeys.The bookmakers' contribution from betting turnover for the 12 months from

April 2002 is, as required by law, now being determined by the British government after the failure of parties to agree to tax on turnover for the new financial year by the October 31 deadline.

In a submission to government officials to minimize the betting industry's contribution to the approximately $122-million already offered, bookmaker interests argued that the tax on turnover was a "legal obligation and not a moral responsibility."

But Brown, a key figure in racing as the figure head for all 59 British

racecourses, delivered a biting response in a speech to a joint marketing group for the county's racecourses:

"Does this mean that bookmakers have no moral obligation to those who work at the racecourses to generate their (betting) product, to owners who finance the horses, to those who have bred the horses, to trainers and stable lads who dedicate their lives to working patiently with horses?" Brown asked. "Do they have no moral obligation to jockeys who travel the country, often in appalling weather, to ride horses, most of whom will win no prize-money. Above all do they feel no obligation to the horses which daily fill the television screens in their betting offices and generate a consistent cash flow?"

Brown urged the betting industry to agree a fair annual payment to the sport, to drop legal action relating to the copyright of pre-race data for which the British Horseracing Board is seeking a fee, and to support constructively the establishment of direct negotiations-- without any government involvement--with racing over a price for betting on the sport, which has been approved in principle by government officials responsible for the existing 40-year-old tax system.—Colin Cameron