Oxford bookmaker Paul King has quit his pitch at the Stadium following a row over increased fees.

King, who bets without the favourite and has to pay an extra £10,000 for the privilege, refused to pay the extra meeting fees and left the Stadium after Tuesday's meeting.

Only last week, Jarrad Racing, who failed to turn up for a BAGS meeting, parted company with the GRA and now there are only three bookmakers standing at Sandy Lane.

King, who has been at the track for 11 years, said: "If I had agreed to pay the increased fees, an extra £35 per meeting making it £180, it would take my annual cost for standing at Oxford to around £38,000 a year, which works out in my case to around £250 per meeting without paying my staff!"

King, who trades under Arthur Young, was a great supporter of the Pall Mall in it's early years at Oxford until it passed over to William Hill.

King added: "I would like to thank my customers for their patronage over the years and also my staff who have been very loyal. It's a sad day."