Racegoers hit with pepper spray require hospital treatment after Epsom fracas

Several racegoers at Epsom required hospital treatment on Thursday after being sprayed by a substance believed to be pepper spray following an altercation at a post-racing music concert.

Police were called to the course at around 10pm after four racegoers were ejected having become embroiled in heated disagreement, with a gas canister let off by the individuals causing a number of bystanders to experience irritation to their skin and eyes.

In a statement, Surrey Police said: "Police were called to Epsom Downs racecourse last night just after 10pm following reports that a gas canister had been released during an altercation at a music and racing event.

"Several people attended A&E suffering the effects of what we believe to be some kind of pepper spray. They have all since been discharged.

"No arrests have been made at this time, but a police investigation is under way, and the racecourse is conducting a review of this event."

Epsom was hosting its final evening meeting of the season with a live DJ set provided afterwards by London nightclub Carwash.

A security check of bags was in place at the course on Thursday, with the individuals ejected and the spray let off towards the end of the music performance.

In a statement, the Jockey Club reiterated its policy of giving lifetime bans for anyone identified as having been involved in antisocial behaviour at its racecourses.

"We are working with the police and our security teams to review CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts from last night," the statement said. "We condemn any form of antisocial behaviour in the strongest terms and apologise to anyone impacted.

"Any individual identified as engaging in antisocial behaviour will be banned for life from all racecourses we operate in line with our zero-tolerance policy."

It is not the first time the Jockey Club has had to respond to antisocial behaviour at Epsom this month, with eight people involved in a fight at an 80s-themed music night that followed racing on July 7.

The Jockey Club was unable to provide an update on whether any of those involved in the incident on that occasion had been identified and banned.

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