Newsletter the Voice of Britain’S Racehorse Trainers
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Newsletter The Voice of Britain’s Racehorse Trainers Seamus Mullins takes over as NTF President At a packed Annual General Meeting on 25th February, Seamus Mullins was National confirmed as the new NTF President, serving a one-year term until the 2017 AGM. The AGM gave warm applause in thanks to Jim Boyle, who was finishing a two- Trainers year term, having agreed to provide Federation some continuity during the industry March/April 2016 negotiations to finalise the BHA Issue No. 1092 Members Agreement. Emma Lavelle’s nomination for the vacancy on the Presidential Inside this issue Triumvirate was approved by the AGM. Emma will therefore be Industry .............................. 2 President in 2018/19, following on Race Planning .................. 3 from Ann Duffield in 2017/18. There is further news in the Membership On the Racecourse ............ 4 section about NTF rule changes Emma Lavelle, Seamus Mullins and Ann Duffield – Employment Matters ......... 7 decided at the AGM. NTF Triumvirate. Photo credit to Matthew Webb Veterinary Notes .............. 10 Business Section ............. 12 Stable staff allowances – Membership .................... 15 important changes from 6 April 2016 Articles of Change to how HMRC deals with allowances The way in which HMRC deals with tax free allowances is changing and in order to Special Interest continue to pay these allowances with the tax free elements, trainers must follow Funding for racing .............. 2 the new rules with effect from 6th April 2016. Vaccination record errors ... 5 This is a significant change to the current practice and trainers will need to Employee handbooks ........ 7 introduce new systems to account for expenses their staff incur when away from Occupational health pilot ... 9 the yard. For detailed advice about what you need to do, please go to our website Cobalt threshold ............... 11 to read the Bespoke Subsistence Allowance Information Sheet. You can locate it in Recruitment strategy ........ 13 Information/Employment/More Employment. This document provides a link to the Business rate relief ........... 14 online “Bespoke scale rate application form” on HMRC’s website. We have asked the RCA to request that racecourses provide receipts for stable staff purchases in their canteens and we are discussing with NASS pragmatic ways for trainers to manage the new system. SEE ALL NTF NEWS ON THE NTFMUSE BLOG Change to amount of tax free element WHERE YOU CAN HMRC have advised that they will allow the £10 daily allowance to be paid fully tax COMMENT and DEBATE free – this is a change from £7 or £9 being tax-free and the balance being taxable. CURRENT ISSUES Trainers should ensure that the tax-free element reflects the expenses incurred http://ntfmuse. by the employees and we refer trainers to the separate article above relating to wordpress.com/ changes in how HMRC deals with tax free allowances and the requirement for trainers to apply to HMRC by 6th April 2016 to continue to use the agreed rates with the tax free elements. continued on page 7 New funding mechanism within grasp At the time of the Government’s announcement of legislation to replace the Horserace Betting Levy the NTF responded with thanks to all those inside and outside racing who have worked tirelessly to reach this historic milestone. In particular, Steve Harman and Nick Rust have given these efforts a fresh impetus and vigour and their determination has been rewarded. We are grateful to all racing’s friends in Parliament, on all sides and in both Houses for their unwavering support. We also thanked all trainers who responded to the NTF’s call for assistance in lobbying politicians locally and in Westminster. You contributed to an industry campaign of unprecedented strength and purpose. The new legislation aims to ensure bookmakers, wherever they are based, make a fair contribution to British horseracing from bets they take on the sport. The proposed statutory mechanism is based on the framework of the Horserace Betting Levy but will satisfy all racing’s key policy objectives and Government’s five tests for the future funding of British Racing: Fair Racing will receive a contribution towards its administration, integrity and future development from all betting operators, regardless of their business model or INDUSTRY channel, creating a level playing field. Sustainable A VAT-efficient model is proposed which provides the flexibility for longer-term arrangements and can react appropriately to future changes in the Betting industry. VAT advantages of the existing Horserace Betting Levy will be retained. Enforceable Appropriate “double-lock” enforcement through a civil right of enforcement and the Gambling Commission fulfilling a role in line with its function under the Levy. Legally Sound Satisfies relevant UK and European Union legislation in relation to free movement, free establishment, competition law and State Aid. Removal The Government will have no ongoing role in the funding of British Racing from of Government betting activity. The current Levy will be maintained, but under revisions made to the 1963 Act, will operate principally as a collection and enforcement mechanism. This is not simply an extension of the current Levy – it is a radical overhaul of the model and will come into force in April 2017. The monies generated will be passed to a new Racing Authority – under the sport’s new tripartite governance structure – with expenditure against a set of agreed heading. The NTF will be closely involved in this process through its role representing collectively the trainers, jockeys and stable staff on the BHA Members Committee. There is still plenty of work to do before the new legislation is passed and revenues begin flowing to racing. The replacement system will be implemented by Secondary Legislation, with the legislative process concluding by the end of 2016. Preceding this will be European Commission clearance in the summer/autumn. Though the likelihood of a legal challenge is receding, the rate at which the take-out from betting is set is crucial. The Government has stated it will restore to racing levels of income it received before the shift towards remote betting. That is something of a moving target but the aim is around £100m per annum. Meanwhile the “Levy cliff” has not gone away. In 2017 statutory yield is set to continue its downward trend and the Levy Board has forecast expenditure cuts. Maintaining the Authorised Betting Partner scheme is essential to offset lower levy yields and the transition to the new mechanism. At the NTF AGM trainers present took a dim view of the large independent racecourses that have apparently chosen not to give outright support to the scheme. The consensus was that Ascot, Goodwood, Newbury and others should give the scheme their unequivocal support. The NTF has coordinated communication from trainers to the racecourses. 2 2017 Fixture List aims to Galloping Policy at support growth Newcastle Racecourse Work is underway on producing the 2017 Following a number of recent requests fixture list with the NTF directly involved in Newcastle Racecourse would like to confirm RACE PLANNING the Fixtures Group that is overseeing the to trainers the situation regarding galloping process. The size of the fixture list is not on the new tapeta surface once racing expected to change significantly in 2017, but commences in May 2016 there is focus on its structure and whether The existing lease with the Northumberland it could better support racing’s growth Golf Club, located in the centre and to objectives. This involves assessing whether the outside of the track, will restrict the the fixture list could be arranged differently racecourse from offering galloping. to help drive up attendances, encourage growth in remote betting, better meet the There will only be opportunities for horses requirements of the media and consumers, to gallop following race meetings. Galloping and also whether it could organised more outside these times will unfortunately not be efficiently from the perspective of those that possible. service it. If this policy changes at any point Newcastle The horsemen have three representatives Racecourse will update the NTF and its on the Fixture Group and the current work members. includes an assessment of the potential additional cost to horsemen of a number Trainers should contact the Clerk of the of fixture move hypotheses. BHA aims to Course James Armstrong on 07801 166820 publish the new fixture list in August. for all enquiries about requests to gallop after race meetings. BHA apologises for late Programme Book The BHA and Weatherbys would like to apologise to all trainers for the late delivery of Volume 2 of the 2016 Programme Book. In a message to trainers conveyed via the NTF, Richard Wayman, BHA Chief Operating Office, said they understand the frustration and inconvenience this will have caused trainers and owners. In the future, the BHA will publish publication dates in advance so that trainers can know when the Programme Book will become available. Volume 3 will be online by May 4th and in hard copy by May 18th, while Volume 4 will be online by July 25th and in hard copy by August 8th. Review of race types by new BHA Racing Group In recent years the structure of the BHA’s racing committees has undergone several transformations. From the beginning of this year it has reverted to a single Racing Group with a remit to cover both Flat and Jump issues. Trainers are represented by Seamus Mullins and Ralph Beckett. At the meeting in March, the Racing Group debated suggestions of different race types to add variety to a programme that is heavily reliant on regular handicaps. Flat horses rated between 81 and 10 were highlighted as a specific concern. Outside handicaps, these horses have limited winning opportunities and it becomes more attractive for connections to sell these horses to go abroad rather than race them in this country.