Bookmakers and punters join forces.

To fight for cuts in BBC coverage of racing (note! this is not Sweden/Australia and Ngong they are fighting for, if they want plenty racing they can come watch tellytrack).

Betting-shop punters back BBC petition

BOOKMAKERS and punters put their traditional rivalry to one side on Monday when joing forces in a last-ditch bid to persuade the BBC to rethink the decision to drastically reduce its racing coverage.

Staffin more than 8,500 betting shops across Britain took to the front-line in the Racing Post's campaign against the cutbacks by encouraging customers to sign the 'Save BBC Racing' petition in an initiative that had the backing of all the high street firms.

Under the terms of a new deal, revealed by the Racing Post on Sunday, the BBC will only guarantee 14 days racing coverage over each of the next three years. The public service broadcaster, televised 27 days of British racing in 2008.

Although logistics prevented bookmakers collating the number of punters that put pen to paper, all reported a highly encouraging response.

William Hill director of racing, David Hood, said: "The reaction has been very positive. We have rung round our shops and staff are putting up the petition and punters are signing it."

Tote spokesman George Primarolo said: "Although Monday wouldn't be our busiest day of the week, it would be fairto say that there has been an above average take-up in signing the petition and shows that betting shop punters are as committed as the Racing Post is in opposing the BBC cuts."

Ciaran O'Brien at Ladbrokes said: "The petition has provoked a lot of interest among customers, and we have seen a lot of support for it."

Coral spokesman Simon Clare said: "The petition has achieved its aim in bringing the issue to the attention of punters, and plenty of of customers have been signing.