French racing and trotting unite in opposition to tax threat as thousands take to the streets of Paris

The leaders of French racing and trotting believe the government is aware of their concerns over possible rises in taxation on betting, but nobody was taking any chances on Thursday when thousands of jockeys, trainers, stable staff, breeders and racecourse employees marched through the streets of Paris. 

They came from every region imaginable, with the black-and-white flags of Brittany flown proudly alongside those carried by Corsica's racing community, and star jockeys rubbing shoulders with the grooms that care for the horses among a crowd of 10,000.

Also present were the people who run the sport, and who must convince the government of Michel Barnier to spare racing as it scours the fiscal biscuit tin for extra revenue, as the presidents and director generals of France Galop, Le Trot and the PMU stood alongside giant banners with the simple message of 'Halte a la Taxe' (stop the tax).