The UK horseracing industry is adopting a united front in the hope it will convince the government to impose a ‘racing right’ fee on bookmakers.

On Thursday, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced it had signed a deal with the Racecourse Association, the Racehorse Owners Association, the Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the National Trainers Federation, the Professional Jockeys Association and the National Association of Stable Staff.

The plan is for a board to make strategic decisions on matters affecting the industry as a whole. Members have agreed to abide by majority decisions made by this board, even if these are not in some members’ commercial interest.

That’s the theory, at least, and it remains to be seen if the alliance can hold. The parties have agreed to give the plan a try until March 2017, after which members will reconsider whether to continue the arrangement.