Protester could face legal action or prison term

A protester from the group Animal Rising who ran on to Epsom racecourse about 10 seconds after the start of yesterday’s Derby can expect to face legal action and potentially even imprisonment for contempt of court as a result of his actions.

“The court order [an injunction secured by the Jockey Club, Epsom’s owners, last week] provides a clear route to prosecution, fines and even the threat of prison … and we will now take steps to enforce that,” Nevin Truesdale, the Jockey Club’s chief executive, said. “That the 244th running of the race was able to take place on time today is testament to the determination of everyone to stage one of British sport’s most iconic and loved events.”

Applause and cheering could be heard from onlookers at the racecourse as half a dozen security and police officers dragged the demonstrator off the track, where 12 suspected Animal Rising activists were arrested.

Ryan Moore, the winning jockey, was unaware of the incursion. “Andrew Cooper [the clerk of the course] and his team and the Jockey Club and BHA [British Horseracing Authority] have been on top of it. It seems to have gone off without a hitch and I think that’s a good sign.”

Moore, on Auguste Rodin, who won the Derby for the third time after victories on Workforce (2010) and Ruler Of The World (2013), felt that his mount might have won with more authority if the early pace had been stronger. “Straight away he got into a very good rhythm,” he said. “He was still a bit immature when he got to the front but when I asked him inside the last furlong, I was very happy with him. I thought I had the race won as soon as I crossed the road [near the top of the home straight] really. I was bit worried hitting the front as early as I was going to [but then] the second horse kicked and my horse just shut down a little bit when I asked him. He had to go win his race but he found plenty.”

Bookmakers suggested that Auguste Rodin’s success had been a decent result, despite Aidan O’Brien’s colt setting off as the 9-2 second-favourite. Frankie Dettori’s final Derby mount, Arrest, set off as the 4-1 favourite and the worst

result for most firms, but finished out of the frame in 10th. “Arrest got very warm beforehand,” Dettori said. “We jumped good, we had a good slot but from the four [furlong pole] I was in trouble.

“He took me into the straight and his legs were going everywhere. It was a combination of the left-hand track, downhill and the ground drying up.”