Jockey Club seeks High Court ruling to tackle Epsom Derby protests
The Jockey Club is seeking a High Court injunction to prevent protestors disrupting the Derby Festival at Epsom next month.
The organisation, which owns Epsom Downs along with many other high-profile tracks, says it has been forced to act after activists from Animal Rising continued to make it “explicitly clear” that they intend to breach security at the Surrey racecourse to protest.
The Grand National at Aintree last month was delayed by a little over ten minutes by animal welfare protesters, with attempts to disrupt the Scottish National at Ayr the following weekend thwarted by police and security staff.
Officials now fear planned disruption at Epsom may endanger participants, racegoers and horses, although they have stated they do not dismiss the right to peaceful protest
