RACECOURSES are braced for a financial hammer blow if Sir Keir Starmer’s outdoor smoking ban spreads to a day cheering on the horses.

The Sun revealed last week the PM is looking to veto lighting up in areas including pub gardens and outside football grounds — and now it has emerged racetracks could be targeted too.

3

It would leave punters facing a full day without a puff.

Insiders fear spectators staying away altogether as a result.

Horse racing venues have already seen total attendances fall from six million in 2016 to 4.8million last year.

Experts fear a ciggie ban would leave smaller courses on the brink.

Last night Shadow Sports Minister Louie French said: “It is unclear how Labour’s nanny state proposals would work in practice, but there is a clear risk that further impositions on the likes of horse racing could damage the sport and put off racegoers.

“The Government should instead focus on supporting the industry and sports grounds across the UK.”

Pat Masterson, managing director at Newton Abbot course, told the Racing Post: “I would imagine a smoking ban outside would give us problems.

“Why would a government seek to do this?

“It’s a mad, idiotic decision.”

Thirsk racecourse boss James Sanderson said: “I’ve been running Thirsk for 13 years and am very involved with Catterick as well.

3

“I cannot remember a single instance where a member of the public has complained about smoking.

“The public don’t need dictating to by bureaucrats.”

Kate Nicholls, boss of the UK Hospitality group, added: “A ban on smoking in outdoor spaces carries the prospect of serious economic harm.

“You only have to recall the pub closures we saw after the indoor ban to see the potential impact.”

Whitehall officials are still working on the detail of how any ban would work in practice.

The Department for Health and Social Care said: “We do not comment on leaks.”

They went on: “We are determined to protect children and non-smokers from second-hand smoking.

“We’re considering a range of measures to finally make Britain smoke-free.”