The long Good Friday

By Colin Mackenzie

Last updated at 22:45 13 February 2008

Is nothing sacred anymore?

For the first time

since they were legalised

in 1961, betting shops

will open on Good Friday

despite there being no

British racing for punters to

wager on.

The only consolation for traditionalists

is that the British

Horseracing Authority will also not

include fixtures for the 2009

calendar at a time when it is paramount

that the current 1,504 meetings

a year should be reduced.

Betting shop staff are currently

being canvassed about whether

they wish to work on Good Friday,

March 21. One Hills employee

said: 'No way is my shop opening

this year — but it may not be

voluntary next year!'

SIS have arranged to screen four

greyhound meetings on Good Friday

from Hall Green, Walthamstow,

Swindon and Monmore, while there

will be horseracing from Deauville

(France), Fairview (South Africa)

and Bremen (Germany).

Opening on a national holiday

such as Good Friday became legal

as the result of the recent

Gambling Act passed last

autumn.

But BHA spokesman Will Lambe

said: 'There is no real desire or

prospect for fixtures on Good Friday.

There is a strong public relations

element which we do not

wish to harm.'

The Gambling Act makes it clear

that Christmas Day is now the

only occasion on which it is illegal

to open betting shops.

Ladbrokes are still considering

the Good Friday issue, while Coral

will open about half their 1,600

shops. Yet the big three firms bar

Ladbrokes have already ruled out

opening for trade in religiously

sensitive Northern Ireland.

Coral spokesman Simon Clare

said: 'If staff have religious objections

they will be honoured — those

who work will get a day in lieu.'