No agreement on British funding Levy Board chairman Rob Hughes today blamed 'irreconcilable differences' after British racing failed to agree a plan for its future funding.A midnight deadline passed today without the members of the Levy Board reaching a deal on a new scheme for financing the sport via the bookmakers from next April.The impasse means that the matter will be referred to Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State at the British Department of Culture, Media and Sport, whose ministry took over responsibility for the levy from the British Home Office in June.Since 1962, the statutory levy has been collected by bookmakers from punters` bets to finance the sport, via the Levy Board.Its level has been a subject for often bitter negotiations between racing and the bookmakers, with the Government often needing to step in to settle matters in the past.The two sides on this occasion were also seeking to reach a deal on provision for a betting shop service of pre-race information and live pictures.
