Chamber
Plenary, 08 Jan 2004
08 Jan 2004 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Horse Racing Industry
I congratulate Susan Deacon on securing today's important debate. It is important that the issues surrounding racing are debated here in the Parliament because racing is currently at a crossroads.
Like Susan Deacon, I want first to express my enthusiasm for racing and for Ayr racecourse in particular. As one of Scotland's five racecourses, Ayr plays a vital role in Ayrshire's local economy. In my view, it is the jewel in the crown of Scottish racing—although I would say that, wouldn't I?
The first meeting at Ayr took place in 1777. The Ayr gold cup was first run in 1804. The year 1824 saw the formation of the Western Meeting Club, which then moved lock, stock and barrel to its current site in 1907. National hunt racing began at Ayr in 1950. Ayr is now the home of the Scottish grand national, which is a spring event not to be missed in the Scottish racing calendar.
Recently, Ayr racecourse has been taken over by Richard Johnstone and Alan Macdonald. The new management team will redevelop the racecourse. They aim to take it on to the next stage and put it on a par with York or even Ascot. I share the welcome enthusiasm of the new owners. I see a positive future for racing at Ayr, which I enjoy particularly.
In addition, I foresee the low-cost airline Ryanair flying many thousands of racegoers into Ayrshire's Prestwick airport. They may come not just from the UK and Ireland but potentially from all over Europe as the new facilities at Ayr take shape. Racing fixture breaks and weekend breaks have enormous potential for the Ayrshire tourist economy. We could confidently expect to attract more than our fair share of those tourists through the use of low-cost air fares.
However, all the current enthusiasm and excitement around Ayr's racecourse could be put at risk by the Office of Fair Trading inquiry into British horse racing that Susan Deacon mentioned. If implemented, the OFT proposals could, in my view, be the death-knell of Scottish racing. A racing fixture free-for-all must not happen. If it does, Scotland and the north of England will lose out. Racing fixtures, prize money and television will move south to the centres of population, while peripheral courses in the north wither on the vine.
The current structured system works well. The 97 annual fixtures in Scotland generate £125 million annually for the Scottish economy. Indeed, Scotland punches marginally above its weight, with 11 per cent of British betting turnover taking place in Scotland. Some 29,000 tourists a year visit the Scottish racecourses. Today, I tell the OFT to back off and rethink its position. The wrong decision could destroy our industry and the potential that exists for its expansion, not least in Ayrshire.
Once again, I congratulate Susan Deacon on securing this debate. I hope that the minister will reflect on what he hears today and that in due course he will argue the Scottish racing industry's corner. Susan Deacon urged him to do that and I too urge him to do so. On a personal note, I would be delighted to welcome the minister to Ayr racecourse so that he can see for himself the quality of racing and entertainment that is on offer there. I look forward to the minister's closing remarks.
Like Susan Deacon, I want first to express my enthusiasm for racing and for Ayr racecourse in particular. As one of Scotland's five racecourses, Ayr plays a vital role in Ayrshire's local economy. In my view, it is the jewel in the crown of Scottish racing—although I would say that, wouldn't I?
The first meeting at Ayr took place in 1777. The Ayr gold cup was first run in 1804. The year 1824 saw the formation of the Western Meeting Club, which then moved lock, stock and barrel to its current site in 1907. National hunt racing began at Ayr in 1950. Ayr is now the home of the Scottish grand national, which is a spring event not to be missed in the Scottish racing calendar.
Recently, Ayr racecourse has been taken over by Richard Johnstone and Alan Macdonald. The new management team will redevelop the racecourse. They aim to take it on to the next stage and put it on a par with York or even Ascot. I share the welcome enthusiasm of the new owners. I see a positive future for racing at Ayr, which I enjoy particularly.
In addition, I foresee the low-cost airline Ryanair flying many thousands of racegoers into Ayrshire's Prestwick airport. They may come not just from the UK and Ireland but potentially from all over Europe as the new facilities at Ayr take shape. Racing fixture breaks and weekend breaks have enormous potential for the Ayrshire tourist economy. We could confidently expect to attract more than our fair share of those tourists through the use of low-cost air fares.
However, all the current enthusiasm and excitement around Ayr's racecourse could be put at risk by the Office of Fair Trading inquiry into British horse racing that Susan Deacon mentioned. If implemented, the OFT proposals could, in my view, be the death-knell of Scottish racing. A racing fixture free-for-all must not happen. If it does, Scotland and the north of England will lose out. Racing fixtures, prize money and television will move south to the centres of population, while peripheral courses in the north wither on the vine.
The current structured system works well. The 97 annual fixtures in Scotland generate £125 million annually for the Scottish economy. Indeed, Scotland punches marginally above its weight, with 11 per cent of British betting turnover taking place in Scotland. Some 29,000 tourists a year visit the Scottish racecourses. Today, I tell the OFT to back off and rethink its position. The wrong decision could destroy our industry and the potential that exists for its expansion, not least in Ayrshire.
Once again, I congratulate Susan Deacon on securing this debate. I hope that the minister will reflect on what he hears today and that in due course he will argue the Scottish racing industry's corner. Susan Deacon urged him to do that and I too urge him to do so. On a personal note, I would be delighted to welcome the minister to Ayr racecourse so that he can see for himself the quality of racing and entertainment that is on offer there. I look forward to the minister's closing remarks.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S2M-474, in the name of Susan Deacon, on the horse racing industry in Scotland.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament recognises the significant contribution that the horse racing industry makes to the economy, generating up to £125 million annually and p...
Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab):
Lab
I am sure that some members, when they were recovering from their mince pies and turkey, might have settled down at Christmas time to watch "The Great Escape...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
A significant number of members want to take part in the debate, so I am moving the time for speeches to four minutes.
John Scott (Ayr) (Con):
Con
I congratulate Susan Deacon on securing today's important debate. It is important that the issues surrounding racing are debated here in the Parliament becau...
Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab):
Lab
I join John Scott in congratulating Susan Deacon on securing this evening's debate. Members' business debates are of vital importance to the work of MSPs in ...
Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
First of all, I want to join in the chorus of appreciation to Susan Deacon for securing this afternoon's debate and for her eloquent introductory speech. The...
Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab):
Lab
I join colleagues from all parties in congratulating Susan Deacon on securing this very important debate. Indeed, the debate must be important, because this ...
Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP):
SSP
Like other members, I welcome the debate and congratulate Susan Deacon on her motion. I knew that a day would come when spending my teenage years in the book...
Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD):
LD
I add to those of other members my congratulations to Susan Deacon on securing this debate. I express my appreciation to the minister for allowing me to say ...
Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab):
Lab
I do not have a direct constituency interest in horse racing—although there are many horses in my constituency, including some extremely successful racehorse...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
Does the member agree that George Orwell was right when he said in "Animal Farm","Four legs good, two legs bad"?
Dr Murray:
Lab
I think that that depends on the two legs.At present, equestrian sports and physical activities face some significant barriers. Although this evening's debat...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I commend Susan Deacon for her motion, which I was happy to sign, and I congratulate her on securing the debate.Four of the five Scottish racecourses have be...
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport (Mr Frank McAveety):
Lab
As other members have done, I welcome the debate and congratulate Susan Deacon on bringing it to the chamber. The debate springs from a discussion that we ha...
Stewart Stevenson rose—
SNP
Mr McAveety:
Lab
I see Stewart Stevenson rising to intervene. I shall accept his intervention, but I hope that it will not be about the George Orwell book that has now been c...
Stewart Stevenson:
SNP
I am probably the member who has least connection with racing, but I have a powerful advocate of racing as one of my constituents and he used to speak here o...
Mr McAveety:
Lab
Funnily enough, I was just coming to the ghost of Christmas past. I am reminded of a discussion that I had at Musselburgh with Alex Salmond. We were discussi...
Meeting closed at 18:03.