Ladies Day at Aintree turned ugly today as a brawl broke out between a group of young men who threw punches at each other in the stands as shocked racegoers watched on.
Merseyside Police has now confirmed that eight men have been arrested for offences including four on suspicion of affray and two men on suspicion of assault.
One man was arrested on suspicion of a drug offence after being searched near the main entrance to the racecourse, and another was on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.
Shocking photos from the second day of the event in Liverpool today show a man in a grey suit with blood around his mouth seemingly preparing to punch another racegoer, who holds one hand up in an apparent attempt to dissuade him.
A second image shows the moment another grimacing thug made contact with a rival’s left ear, with a third showing a number of men scuffling together in the middle of a huge crowd.
Shocking photos show a man in a grey suit with blood around his mouth seemingly preparing to punch another racegoer, who holds one hand up in an apparent attempt to dissuade him
A second image shows the moment another grimacing thug made contact with a rival’s left ear
A third shows a number of men scuffling together in the middle of a huge crowd
Racegoers fight each other as they scuffle on the second day of the Grand National Festival horse race meeting at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool
Chief Inspector Iain Wyke, in charge of the Policing Operation for the event, said: ‘Ladies Day welcomed thousands more visitors to the festival and I would like to thank everyone for enjoying the day safely.
‘There were very little incidents to note as the vast majority of racegoers enjoyed it without causing any disruption. ‘We now looking forward to tomorrow’s highlight in the racing calendar, Grand National, which will attract even greater crowds to Aintree racecourse.
‘With this I would like to reiterate to everyone attending to please arrive in plenty of time so they can pass through security smoothly and enjoy the rest of the day.
‘I would also remind visitors that our officers will be around the course to speak to them with any issues or concerns so we can act up on it.’
The brawl follows another fight during a private event at Aintree in December, with punters exchanging punches and kicks other as security guards appeared to just watch on.
The Grand National is one of the biggest days in the racing calendar, but like other races regularly plays host to outbreaks of drunken violence among a small minority of the crowd.
Away from the disgraceful scenes most racegoers embraced the Ladies Day atmosphere dressing up in their finery.
While the festival is all about horse racing, today is the day racing fans take part in a competition to win the coveted cash prize after being crowned best dressed.
As the day went on, revellers sipped on champagne and showed off their best moves, proving that teetering stilettos were no match for the dance floor.
One woman was pictured drinking from the bottle as her friends smiled for pictures and two other racegoers were snapped clinking their champagne glasses together to celebrate day two of Aintree.
Excited friends topped up each other’s bubbly as they prepared for a day full of sophistication, excitement and of course, racing.
Ladies day at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, Merseyside, part of this years Grand National
A racegoer sits in a bin at the end of day two of the 2024 Randox Grand National Festival
A racegoer at the end of day two of the event in Liverpool
Litter strewn across the ground at Ladies Day at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool
Jollier scenes: One woman is pictured drinking from the bottle as her friend cheers her on in Liverpool today
A group of friends are pictured enjoying themselves at Aintree today, as one woman smiles at the camera with a drink in her hand
Three revellers put on a very leggy display as they attended the festival dressed in short patterned dresses, large floppy hats and heels
The earliest arrivals at the racecourse brought bright shades and fabulous headwear, but they had to clutch onto their large fascinators as they battled blustery winds in Liverpool.
One racegoer opted for a deep purple and butter yellow combination in a figure-hugging dress teamed with an elaborate floral fascinator.
Another chose a teal frock with a structured collar, which was paired with a very summery yellow netted fascinator which complemented her blonde bob perfectly.
In another ode to the natural world, a fellow reveller arrived in a multicoloured flowing maxi dress which she accessorised with a blue fascinator featuring a stunning fuchsia floral print.
The stunning fashion displays follow a first day of excitement on the racecourse where party-loving racegoers enjoyed an evening of fun after nail-biting action on the course.
Love Islander Claudia Fogarty was pictured at the event, donning a strapless hot pink noughties-inspired dress.
She paired this with white heels and a matching Jacquemus bag with statement gold dangly earrings.
Unlike Royal Ascot which adopts stricter rules on what to wear, Aintree takes a more relaxed approach and tells attendees to simply come ‘dressed to feel your best’.
Fancy dress for revellers is also allowed, as long as the costume isn’t offensive or derogatory.
One woman even showed off her love for Manchester United, as she donned a bardot dress which showed off her tattoo.
And the police could not hide their excitement either, with snaps of officers smiling at some of the creative and bright outfits that racegoers were wearing.
Around 150,000 people are expected to attend the three-day festival, making it one of the largest of its kind in the world, over the next few days.
Celebrities, including Liverpool legend John Barnes, were among the guests in attendance.
The former England star opted for a tweed look while his wife Andrea channelled Minnie Mouse chic in a navy polka dot dress and red cardigan.
A woman is dressed in a nude gemstone embroidered plunging dress as she arrives at the race event
A woman is pictured downing a bottle of bubbly at the event in Liverpool today
This reveller wore a sapphire-blue dress with a large split that goes up to her thigh, paired with a fluffy coat
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