Strike action has crippled racing in Italy.  All sections of the industry are protesting at the dire state of its finances.

All racecourses on mainland Italy have been closed, prompting strike action by judges, starters and racing officials, while representatives of breeders, trainers and owners are staging a sit-in at the governing body’s headquarters in Rome.

Frankie Dettori recently highlighted the severity of the situation in Hong Kong last month.  He sported Italy’s national football shirt with ‘Save Italian Racing’ emblazoned on the front in a jockeys’ event at Sha Tin.

Italian racing’s governing body ASSI has announced racecourses would receive just 61 million euros in 2012 which is approximately 40 million euros less than last year.

The budget cuts, plus the declining income from betting turnover, has resulted in a 40% cut to all prize-money for 2012.

A meeting between representatives of the racing industry and the Italian government to find a solution to the problem is scheduled for January 13.