The Jockey Club, which runs Epsom Downs Racecourse, has lodged an application to the High Court seeking an injunction to prohibit acts intended to disrupt The Derby Festival.
British racing’s largest commercial operator and employer said it had been forced to take the decision because protesters from Animal Rising continue to make it “explicitly clear” that they intend to breach security at the Surrey racecourse to stage a disruptive protest, which may compromise the safety of equine and human participants and all racegoers.
An injunction would in no way threaten the right of anyone to protest in a peaceful and law-abiding way and The Jockey Club has already offered Animal Rising an area near the entrance of the racecourse specifically for this purpose on Derby Day on June 3.
The injunction sought would prohibit individuals from entering onto the racetrack and carrying out other acts with the intention and/or effect of disrupting the races.
Such acts include intentionally causing objects to enter the racetrack, entering the parade ring, entering and/or remaining on the horses’ route to the parade ring and to the racetrack without authorisation, and intentionally endangering any person at Epsom during the two-ay Derby Festival.
If the injunction is granted, individuals acting in breach of the court order could be subject to proceedings for contempt of court, which may lead to a fine and/or imprisonment.
A High Court hearing, which will rule on whether to grant the injunction, has been scheduled to take place on Friday.
