The Jockey Club has instructed its lawyers to consider civil proceedings against members of Animal Rising who attempted to disrupt the running of the Derby at Epsom on Saturday.
On Sunday night police charged an activist who ran on to the track shortly after the start of the race. Ben Newman, 32, from Hackney, east London, has been charged with causing public nuisance.
Thirty other individuals arrested by Surrey police on Saturday have been released on bail pending further inquiries, but an injunction obtained by the Jockey Club, which owns Epsom, at the high court last month allows it to launch an immediate claim for damages. This could also include a claim against Dan Kidby, a founder of the animal rights group and the only individual named in the injunction, for the significant costs of the application process.
“We were always very clear that having been granted the high court injunction we would not hesitate to enforce it should Animal Rising or anyone breach the court order,” a Jockey Club spokesperson said on Sunday. “Following their reckless and illegal actions we have been in touch with our lawyers about the next steps in this process.”
It also emerged on Sunday that a number of individuals were arrested beforehand with equipment for “locking on”, to hamper their removal if they accessed the track. Some were also in possession of burner phones.
Speaking on Racing TV, Nevin Truesdale, the Jockey Club’s chief executive, said he was “really proud” of the coordinated action with Surrey police that had allowed the race to go ahead as planned on Saturday.
Ayr
2.15 Tajawal
2.45 Alethiometer
3.15 Fifty Sent
3.45 Imperative
4.15 Kraken Power
4.45 Spirit Of Ash
5.15 Global Humor
Thirsk
2.30 Midnight Lir
3.00 Rajindri
3.30 Sparkle In His Eye (nb)
4.00 Hail Sezer (nap)
4.30 Lady Rascal
5.00 Bollin Margaret
5.35 Furnicoe
Wolverhampton
5.30 Inexplicable
6.00 Martineo
6.30 Eternal Flame
7.00 Vespasian
7.30 Brasil Power
8.00 Danzart
8.30 Sociologist
9.00 Sarkha
Windsor
5.45 My Mate Mike
6.15 The Line
6.45 Lady Dreamer
7.15 Eminency
7.45 Youthful King
8.15 Blazer Two
8.45 Greg The Great
Truesdale said: “We shouldn’t underestimate the impact of really strong intelligence‑led policing. A significant proportion [of the arrests] took place yesterday morning.
“Two houses were raided early on Saturday, those folk having been followed home from Epsom having done their reconnaissance on Friday evening. Then more vehicles were stopped on the way to Epsom, and the big thing there other than taking out individuals was the removal of infrastructure. Locking devices, burner phones, the confiscation of those, I suspect, probably helped scupper the operation as well.”
