A brawl broke out at the Epsom Derby on Saturday afternoon by betting stands, forcing police officers to get involved to break up the fight in one of the crowded spectator areas.
Around half a dozen people appeared to be involved in the incident, which saw shoving and punches thrown between several male attendees at the famous races.
It came amid a heavy police presence at Epsom Racecourse in Surrey following promises by animal welfare activists to ‘severely’ disrupt the day.
Those involved in the fight are understood not to be protesters, but at least seven officers were need to quell the violence and separate the warring parties.
Video footage from the scene shows how the violence rapidly unfolded next to betting stands as a woman can be heard screaming in the background.
The incident saw shoving and punches thrown between several male attendees at the famous races
A man is lead away by police officers following the incident at the Epsom Derby on Friday
Spectators on raised steps in viewing areas along the racecourse filmed the scenes breaking out beneath them as crowds rush to get out of the way of the fight.
Several men are seen grappling with one another as stewards and a police officer attempt to prevent the escalation of the incident.
However the men shove themselves out of reach as two or three racegoers push another backwards, propelling the group into the crowd at considerable speed.
At least one of the men can then be seen to launch a hard punch, with one racegoer being pushed to the ground, before half a dozen other police officers arrive at the scene and begin to separate those involved.
Read Related Also: Victoria Jameson Parents, Height, Net Worth, The Bachelor
As officers pull the men apart, one onlooker can be heard shouting: ‘Woah, they’re f*****g police bro’.
Several stewards were also involved in separating the parties, whom police were seen wrestling with for some seconds before being able to gain control of the situation.
A second clip, which appears to have been filmed soon afterwards, shows four police officers escorting one of the men away from the scene as crowds around him jeer and boo.
The man is seen resisting police efforts to remove him from the area, and those watching soon begin cheering the officers as they take him towards the exit.
It is not yet known whether any arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
Several men are seen grappling with one another as stewards and a police officer attempt to prevent the escalation of the incident
It comes after police arrested 31 people on Saturday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance. They remain in police custody.
Ahead of the Epsom Derby, environmentalists and animal welfare zealots Animal Rising said protesters would attempt to shut down the race in their bid to protect the animals, following disruption caused to the Grand National in April.
Police arrested 19 activists on Saturday morning, plus 12 more in the grounds of the racecourse itself.
This included one activist who managed to break his way onto the track.
Surrey Police has been contacted for comment.
