Wolverhampton racecourse operator Arena Leisure has denied it is in talks with bookmakers over a plan to replace the £90 million betting levy that funds horse racing.
Arena, which operates seven courses, and Uttoxeter-based Northern Racing, were among course operators claimed to be involved in the scheme along with bookmakers Ladbrokes, William Hill and Betfred.
The bookmakers have drawn up provisional contracts which would earn the tracks 10 per cent of the gross win generated by their fixtures, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Such a deal would replace the horseracing betting levy on bookies which has funded the sport since 1961.
However Arena said it "totally refutes the assertions made in the article and withdraws its inclusion in the list of racecourse operators involved in such a deal".
The bookmakers were said to be looking for the levy to be cut by £50 million to offset the extra cost of buying footage from Turf TV, a television service backed by 31 tracks.
Chris Palmer, chief executive of Towchester racecourse in Northamptonshire, has written to Culture Secretary James Purnell informing him of the talks over the new contract, which would only become effective if the horseracing betting levy was abolished, the Telegraph said.
Mr Purnell must decide how much the industry pays under the next horseracing levy amid bookmakers' concerns over Turf TV.
