Fine Musselburgh figures come with Levy warning

Musselburgh has performed well during the 2010 Flat season, according to attendance and income figures.

Over 18 meetings, one more than last year, the East Lothian course increased attendance by 3,519 (+7.8 per cent) to 47,131, while the average attendance rose by 2.1 per cent to 2,618. Income from admissions jumped 10.7 per cent to 539,232, while sponsorship income rose by an impressive 13.9 per cent to 148,000 and corporate hospitality revenue increased by 20.9 per cent to 277,615.

But the good news was tempered by a word of warning from general manager Bill Farnsworth about future problems for all UK racecourses face due to ongoing dispute between bookmakers and the Levy Board.

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The majority of prize money offered at racecourses is paid out of the Levy, which is a tariff imposed on the gross profits of bookmakers. Negotiations between the racing and bookmaking industries to set the 2011-12 Levy have broken down but its recently been announced by the Levy Board that expenditure in 2011 will be 60 million, down almost half on the Levy return of 115 million received in 2008-09.

Farnsworth said: "Trading conditions for all racecourses have been incredibly tough over the last year so our figures are all the more encouraging, albeit we had an extra meeting this year.

"However, the satisfaction of these fine results will be short lived unless the Government can thrash out a fair and equitable return from the bookmaking industry. Without this, we and many other racecourses face a bleak future with diminishing prize money."