Chamber
Plenary, 08 Jan 2004
08 Jan 2004 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Horse Racing Industry
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 bookies would come in handy—that day has arrived. I confess that I have a love-hate relationship with Scottish horse racing; I love winning and hate losing.
I have fond memories of going as a child first to Lanark racecourse, before it was closed, and more recently to Hamilton park with my mum, dad and sister, and of the fine times that we had. Alex Neil reminded me of a few of those. I even remember bunking off school and being lifted over the turnstiles into the racing. I do not know whether Susan Deacon had a similar joy at Musselburgh.
In recent years—rather than in recent months—I have had the opportunity and great joy of visiting all five Scottish racecourses. I remember going as a toddler to see the silver bell being run at Lanark. If I had to choose one sporting event to attend in the whole year—apart from perhaps to see Motherwell Football Club in the cup final—it would be the Cheltenham festival in March.
I share Susan Deacon's concerns about the rule that the Office of Fair Trading is suggesting. I pledge whatever support I can give to the Scottish racing industry to protect it from the market free-for-all to which Susan referred. I support the industry's future development, which involves ensuring that the big tracks do not get all the riches while the smaller tracks are forced to the wall, which appears to be the aim of the rule that has been proposed by the Office of Fair Trading.
In the last two minutes of my speech, I offer some sincerely felt suggestions to the Scottish racing industry. If—as I am sure it does—the industry wants to have the biggest possible constituency of Scots behind it, there are other matters that it must address. There are some things about the Scottish horse racing industry that I have difficulty with. For example, there is no doubt that the welfare of the animals is sometimes not given the consideration that it needs, especially when their racing days are over, and especially when we consider that two thirds of horses never win a single race.
I also have difficulty with what happens to the people who support the Scottish racing industry. I look at the Scottish racing industry and the British racing industry and, with regard to industrial relations, I see that the owners and trainers often treat their staff like serfs. A pecking order is strictly enforced. There is the doffing of caps, and the use of the terms "sir" and "lads"—even the stable girls are called lads. All that belongs to a time long ago and needs to be improved.
The Jockey Club often gives the impression that it is running the sport as it would run an army, with petty hierarchies, rules, nepotism and archaic procedures. In the betting shops that I go to, those are laughed at by ordinary punters, as are the silver rings, the Tattersalls and the grandstands. I am happy to say that I have been to racing in Ireland, France, America and Australia, and in race meetings in those places they do not have a class system with three different grades. There, people pay their money and they are all the same. I look forward to that situation arriving in Scotland.
The vast majority of jockeys in this country earn a pittance for putting their lives in jeopardy up to six times a day. Too much of the industry is based on the widespread use of cheap labour. A national minimum wage that was set at two thirds of the average would transform the lives of many in the industry, who pay a high price for their love of horses.
It is clear that the lifeblood of the racing industry is bookmaking and gambling. A great deal could be gained from examining France, where the gambling system—the pari-mutuel system—has been taken into public hands. I pay credit to Musselburgh, where I go regularly. It is great that the course is owned by East Lothian Council. I pay it credit for the enormous transformation that it has undergone in recent years. Improvements have also been made at Hamilton park. I welcome the reinvestment of profits in those racecourses, but I would like the enormous profits that the bookmaking firms make in this country to be ploughed back into racing and I would like to see a pari-mutuel or tote system.
I have fond memories of going as a child first to Lanark racecourse, before it was closed, and more recently to Hamilton park with my mum, dad and sister, and of the fine times that we had. Alex Neil reminded me of a few of those. I even remember bunking off school and being lifted over the turnstiles into the racing. I do not know whether Susan Deacon had a similar joy at Musselburgh.
In recent years—rather than in recent months—I have had the opportunity and great joy of visiting all five Scottish racecourses. I remember going as a toddler to see the silver bell being run at Lanark. If I had to choose one sporting event to attend in the whole year—apart from perhaps to see Motherwell Football Club in the cup final—it would be the Cheltenham festival in March.
I share Susan Deacon's concerns about the rule that the Office of Fair Trading is suggesting. I pledge whatever support I can give to the Scottish racing industry to protect it from the market free-for-all to which Susan referred. I support the industry's future development, which involves ensuring that the big tracks do not get all the riches while the smaller tracks are forced to the wall, which appears to be the aim of the rule that has been proposed by the Office of Fair Trading.
In the last two minutes of my speech, I offer some sincerely felt suggestions to the Scottish racing industry. If—as I am sure it does—the industry wants to have the biggest possible constituency of Scots behind it, there are other matters that it must address. There are some things about the Scottish horse racing industry that I have difficulty with. For example, there is no doubt that the welfare of the animals is sometimes not given the consideration that it needs, especially when their racing days are over, and especially when we consider that two thirds of horses never win a single race.
I also have difficulty with what happens to the people who support the Scottish racing industry. I look at the Scottish racing industry and the British racing industry and, with regard to industrial relations, I see that the owners and trainers often treat their staff like serfs. A pecking order is strictly enforced. There is the doffing of caps, and the use of the terms "sir" and "lads"—even the stable girls are called lads. All that belongs to a time long ago and needs to be improved.
The Jockey Club often gives the impression that it is running the sport as it would run an army, with petty hierarchies, rules, nepotism and archaic procedures. In the betting shops that I go to, those are laughed at by ordinary punters, as are the silver rings, the Tattersalls and the grandstands. I am happy to say that I have been to racing in Ireland, France, America and Australia, and in race meetings in those places they do not have a class system with three different grades. There, people pay their money and they are all the same. I look forward to that situation arriving in Scotland.
The vast majority of jockeys in this country earn a pittance for putting their lives in jeopardy up to six times a day. Too much of the industry is based on the widespread use of cheap labour. A national minimum wage that was set at two thirds of the average would transform the lives of many in the industry, who pay a high price for their love of horses.
It is clear that the lifeblood of the racing industry is bookmaking and gambling. A great deal could be gained from examining France, where the gambling system—the pari-mutuel system—has been taken into public hands. I pay credit to Musselburgh, where I go regularly. It is great that the course is owned by East Lothian Council. I pay it credit for the enormous transformation that it has undergone in recent years. Improvements have also been made at Hamilton park. I welcome the reinvestment of profits in those racecourses, but I would like the enormous profits that the bookmaking firms make in this country to be ploughed back into racing and I would like to see a pari-mutuel or tote system.
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.