Man arrested on suspicion of fixing horse races as police carry out dawn raid

A man has been arrested on suspicion of fixing horse races following reports of suspicious betting activity. Officers from Greater Manchester Police, working with the Gambling Commission, made a dawn raid on an address in Bury. An investigation was launched after reports of unusual betting patterns linked to several races earlier this year.

Section 42 of the Gambling Act states that it is a criminal offence to 'cheat at gambling' or if someone 'does anything for the purpose of enabling or assisting another person to cheat at gambling'. A person who is convicted of such an offence could face up to two years behind bars, in addition to a fine.

A statement from the Gambling Commission read: "A man was arrested today in connection with allegations of fixing horse races. The 42-year-old was arrested as part of a joint investigation by Greater Manchester Police and the Gambling Commission.

"The man, who was arrested in Hawkshaw, Bury, at 6am, is alleged to have committed offences under section 42 of the Gambling Act.

"The investigation was launched following reports of suspicious betting activity linked to horse races earlier this year. The Commission will not be commenting further at this time."

A spokesperson for the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) declined to comment when asked by The Mirror, saying: "The BHA does not comment on investigations or speculation surrounding investigations."

Greater Manchester Police also declined to comment. It comes just days after horse racing in Britain went 'on strike' in opposition to a government plan to increase betting duties.

Meetings at Carlisle, Uttoxeter, Lingfield and Kempton were all postponed on Wednesday in solidarity with the 'Axe the Racing Tax' campaign.

The government is weighing up a proposal to 'harmonise' online betting taxes, which would raise the amount of duty on racing and sports betting from 15 per cent to 21 per cent.

Such a move would align horse racing with games of chance like casinos and slot machines. Studies commissioned by the BHA have warned the industry could lose up to £330million over five years if the plan goes ahead.

The organisation has called on the government to scrap their plans and instead create a separate, lower rate specifically for horse racing, reflecting its 'huge economic and cultural value' to Britain.