Mass brawls at British racecourses put Irish horse racing chiefs on their guard

Irish racing chiefs are wary of the type of unruly behaviour which has marred high profile meetings in the UK in recent years including at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood

A drug dog waits for the gates to open on the first day of Glorious Goodwood. Picture: Edward Whitaker

“Otherwise, nearly 7000 spectators enjoyed a fantastic day at Newmarket without incident,” said the spokesperson after racing at Newmarket last weekend.

The ‘incident’ was a 20-minute mass brawl that began in the betting ring after the Cambridgeshire last Saturday and reached a bloody conclusion in a grandstand bar.