A group of people who ran onto the track before the Epsom Derby were removed by police. The female protesters, holding banners and dressed as suffragettes, fell to the ground when officers intervened.
The group laid in the middle of the course about 75 yards from the finish line. Police and security officers dragged them away.
The scene was reminiscent of the 1913 protest at the Epsom Derby by suffragette Emily Davison who threw herself at the king's horse, Anmer, causing the horse and rider to fall. She suffered a fractured skull and died four days later. Suffragettes from across the country attended her funeral.
Videos on social media showed the protesters being carried off into a police van. The protesters were clad in suffragette costumes, and were seen clutching purple and green banners.
Animal Rebellion claimed six of its members ran on to the track at the racecourse in Surrey ahead of the Derby, in the campaign group's second Platinum Jubilee weekend protest.
On Thursday (2 June), members of Animal Rebellion were arrested after they entered the ceremonial route on The Mall before Trooping the Colour. The group said Saturday's protest was aimed at making “a definitive statement, and act, against the cruelty and harm the horse racing industry represents”.
Dozens of officers could be seen working to move them, as members of the royal box watched on. The crowds cheered as they were taken away, with a voice on a Tannoy apologising to spectators.
Desert Crown ultimately won the Derby in blistering fashion, finishing well clear of Hoo Ya Mal in second. Princess Anne attended the Derby, while the Queen watched proceedings from home in "comfy clothes" according to her granddaughter Zara Tindall.
Her Majesty did not attend the major sporting event on Saturday, opting to view it on television from Windsor Castle, where she has been sent a souvenir race card to follow the action.
However, the Queen was a winner elsewhere at Worcester, as the royal silks were carried to victory by 7-2 chance Steal A March, with the head of state said to be keeping an eye on racing across the country.
Speaking to ITV after the win, Desert Crowd jockey, Richard Kingscote, said: "You can't put it into words. When I was a kid I was useless [as a jockey] and I've had a lot of support from this gentleman [trainer Michael Stoute] here.
"[Desert Crown has] got a huge amount of class, we turned in going well and was so lovely. I [even] took a tug in the straight, he's got a lot of class and gave me a lot of confidence. But it's all about the man who trained him."
