Sam Waller R.I.P.

I was sorry to learn of the death on Saturday in his 93rd year of Sam Waller, former Senior Steward of the Turf Club.

This was the man who issued the prophetic warning in March 2000 during the debate on the Act establishing HRI that the carrot of the betting tax was "diseased" because the expected growth in internet betting would result in a dramatic reduction in the Government's tax take and, in consequence, in the amount paid to racing.

I'm not sure that he had any alternative proposals, but he certainly summed up what has since happened pretty succinctly.