Bring your tractor for free: Fakenham ploughs unique initiative as show of support for local farmers in wake of inheritance tax row

Fakenham is to show its support for the local farming and rural community in the wake of the government's recent inheritance tax proposals by allowing tractors and their drivers in for free at its ITV-televised meeting on January 19.

The aim of officials is to fill the car park in the centre of the track with line upon line of tractors in a bid to generate increased media coverage. As the only jumps track in Norfolk, a county known for its agriculture and food production, Fakenham is surrounded by farms and the track is inviting anyone linked to the farming community to bring their tractor along on Sky Bet Raceday.

Clerk of the course David Hunter at Fakenham with Harvey and Apollo

David Hunter, Fakenham’s chief executive, said: "This is not a protest. This is an exciting and fun day of high-quality horseracing that will have two races shown live on ITV.

"I would like the entire centre of the racecourse to be filled with line upon line of tractors to illustrate the sense of frustration the rural community and businesses have about this devastating farm inheritance tax that Keir Starmer’s government is determined to implement.”

He added: “Fakenham racecourse is very lucky to have the support and friendship of the Norfolk rural community and this raceday is a small way for us to repay that support."

The first race on January 19 is at 12.30 and all tractors are expected to be on site well before then after entering the racecourse via the town entrance, rather than the usual route through the village of Pudding Norton.

In December, many racing bodies, together with their tractors, took part in a RIP British Farming Protest against the inheritance tax plans in central London.

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