Politics
Huge fight breaks out at Sandown races as one man KOs another with sucker punch & cops investigate ‘disgraceful’ scenes
THIS is the sickening moment a fight breaks out at Sandown races – and one man KOs another with a horror sucker punch.
The footage, branded ‘disgraceful’ online, shows the racegoer lying face down on the floor after being clocked in the Premier enclosure at the Surrey track.
TwitterTwo men are shown trading blows near the door as broken glass and turned-over tables litter the floor[/caption]
TwitterSecurity are on hand to try to intervene but the fight continues[/caption]
TwitterA man in a light blue shirt winds up a punch on the man appearing to be restrained by security[/caption]
TwitterThe man falls to the floor seemingly knocked out after being clocked with the horror sucker punch[/caption]
Police are working with Sandown officials to identify those involved and issue lifetime bans.
This is the latest racecourse brawl to erupt after a mass fight at Newmarket last September saw one racegoer use a table as a weapon in a terrifying 20-minute melee.
In the new video, filmed during the jumps season finale last weekend, around three to four men can be seen scuffling early on.
Other members of the public are held back as security attempt to intervene.
One man appears to be lying on the floor hurt as two others trade blows near a door.
The camera then pans to one man who appears to be held back by security.
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Another man in a light blue short sleeve shirt swings a wild punch at him from behind, before connecting with a second.
It is then that the man is shown falling to the ground, bringing what appeared to be a security guard with him.
A post accompanying the video read: “@Sandownpark this is a disgrace.
LIFETIME BANS
“Right in front of us with security scared to eject those involved.
“Premier enclosure tickets that are anything but premier.”
The Jockey Club, who own Sandown, confirmed the footage was genuine and that cops are involved in banning those involved.
Sarah Drabwell, Sandown’s general manager, said: “Racing is a fantastic day out for most people and then you see our security team having to respond to behaviour like this from individuals who should never return to a racecourse.
“As such we are liaising with the police and will work with them to try to identify anyone involved, in order to issue life bans from every racecourse we operate.”
Punters commenting on the clip reacted with equal part horror and resignation.
One said: “More mass brawls at the races. They should do more to try to stamp this out.”
‘ABSOLUTE DISGRACE’
Another wrote: “Absolute disgrace – the game has changed so much.”
While a fellow Twitter user commented: “If this was a football game that riot police would be involved.”
Some 9,000 punters attended Sandown on Saturday – which faced another online backlash after two women were refused entry for wearing white trainers.
The racecourse confirmed they are reviewing the dress code after two women were barred from going into the Premier enclosure due to their footwear.