Dispute widens as battle lines drawn

Racing took a reputation for shooting itself in the foot to a new low today when talk of strike action by racehorse owners continued amid the publication of figures illustrating that the sport is in its healthiest state for decades.

Owners and trainers across the country have responded to news that prizemoney for the final four months of 2003 is to be slashed by £6million with a threat to boycott racecourses who fail to offer prizemoney which meets with their approval.

Leading trainer Paul Cole has described the prospect of races being run for £2,000 as "degrading," while owner Geoff Lucas, who is involved with 15 horses, has called for an all-out strike as opposed to selective action.

However, several influential figures in the betting industry have called on owners to put up or shut up over a problem which could well escalate in 2004. Channel 4 betting pundit John McCririck challenged owners who favour a strike to "bring it on so we can see how many will carry it through".

He added: "There are more horses in training than ever and more owners involved in racing than ever, and if anything you could argue that prizemoney is too high rather than too low."

The recent cutbacks have been ordered by the Levy Board, whose chairman Rob Hughes has argued that owners are "in denial" over the fact that the British Horseracing Board's deal to replace betting tax with a share in the gross profits made by bookmakers has not realised the expected dividend.