Frankie Dettori: Lee Westwood right to slam British Horse racing prize money

Last week golfer and racehorse owner Lee Westwood posted on X criticising British horseracing prize money and affordability checks.

Legendary jockey, Frankie Dettori has agreed with the statement amid a tumultuous time for the sport.

Westwood, who has owned numerous horses over the last couple of decades criticised the state of horse racing last week.

In response to ITV’s Rishi Persad on X, the LIV golfer posted: “I understand that you’re taking a chance when owning a race horse but when owners feel like they are being taken the p*** out of with higher fees and lower prize money it’s simply time to get out.

“You can’t have a horse winning 3-4 times in a season and not breaking even. As for affordability checks…..”

His criticism has come at a crucial time in the sport’s history.

As the whole industry of British horse racing going on strike on Wednesday to have their say on the proposed tax hike from the government.

Jockey Tom Marquand told talkSPORT: “It’s a worrying time in reality for British racing and it’s something that needs sorting and if that kind of action [a strike] is needed for the cause to be taken seriously, then so be it.

“Obviously jockeys are on board with it in that regard. We need something to be done and people to sit up and take notice.”

And it’s not just current jockeys either that worry for the future of the sport, a lot of that is to do with the decline in betting revenue and the lower prize money Britain offers in comparison to other countries.

‘He’s right’

Dettori agrees with Westwood, speaking to Stake the former British-based jockey explained: “We’ve been saying this for the last 30 years, and of course he has a point.

“All you have to do is look at every other country. We still have the best product, namely our horses and tracks in Britain, but it doesn’t make sense that everywhere else is running for much more money.

“I don’t know how to fix it, but he’s right.”

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