Epsom Derby: Protestor detained by police after running onto racecourse
A protestor has been detained after running onto the Epsom Derby course
PA
Two protesters have been arrested as they attempted to disrupt the Epsom Derby - but failed to interrupt the race.
One man burst onto the track just after the race started at 1.30pm before being tackled to the ground.
Minutes later, a woman attempted to climb the fence but was pulled to the floor by police.
Members of the crowd were heard cheering as the protesters were dragged off the course on Saturday afternoon.
The man burst onto the track just after the race started at 1.30pm before being tackled to the ground
PA
One protester was moved to the side of the track around a minute before the horses came past for their final sprint.
Despite pledges by activist group Animal Rising to “cancel or severely delay” the Derby, the race continued as planned.
There has been a heavy police presence at the course following threats from protestors to disrupt the event.
Nineteen other people have been arrested in connection with plans to disrupt the Epsom Derby Festival on Saturday, Surrey Police said.
A spokesman for the force said 11 people were arrested at addresses in Mitcham and Byfleet in the early hours and a further eight people were arrested after their vehicle was stopped on Canons Lane in Burgh Heath at around 10.20am.
Last week, the Jockey Club, which owns Epsom Downs, was granted the injunction against the group, claiming it had made “explicitly clear” it intended to breach security at the Surrey racecourse.
Animal Rising has said the fact the Epsom Derby started while a protester was still on the course is a “sickening display” of profit being treated as more important than animal welfare.
The group tweeted: “Despite The Jockey Club’s claim that the horses safety is paramount, they decided to start the race DESPITE KNOWING THAT A PROTESTER WAS ON THE TRACKS.
“Another sickening display of profit (over) care for animals.”
There has been a heavy police presence at the course following threats from protestors to disrupt the event
PA
A racegoer who filmed the moment a protester ran onto the course has said the activist was “putting the horses in more danger” by jumping onto the track.
Jack Cummins, from Cambridge, said the protester was in plain clothes “disguised as a normal racegoer” when they ran onto the course.
“The guy started running down the course from the hill side – to be fair to security and police they grabbed him pretty quickly and dragged him off.
“Pretty stupid of him to do it, protesters don’t understand how well-treated these horses are – they’re putting the horses in more danger than they’ll have ever been in by jumping into the track.”
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