High Court approves injunction to protect Derby from animal rights disruption

The home of the Derby has been granted further protection against the threat of disruption by protesters.

Last year the Jockey Club, owner of Epsom Downs racecourse, secured an interim injunction prohibiting trespassers and protests intended to disrupt the historic race.

This followed incidents at the 2023 Grand National at Jockey Club-owned Aintree in April when the big race was delayed by activists from Animal Rising. The animal rights group had made statements that plans were afoot to breach security and stage a similar protest at the Derby in June.

On the day of the 2023 race, Animal Rising member Ben Newman was tackled by security after he ran onto the course just after the horses had left the starting stalls for the big race.

He was arrested by police and appeared in court in Guildford in July last year where he pleaded guilty to causing public nuisance and sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years and fined a total of £1,356.

Then in October last year during contempt of court proceedings in the High Court, he admitted breaching the injunction and was given a two-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

The initial injunction had remained in place ahead of the 2024 Derby while the Jockey Club sought a ‘final injunction’ to restrain acts of trespass and interference with racing at the track.

On Tuesday the Jockey Club said High Court judge Sir Anthony Mann had ruled that the final injunction should be granted, extending the conditions for up to a further five years, subject to an annual review.

The order specifically prohibits individuals from entering onto the racetrack and carrying out other acts with the intention and/or effect of disrupting any raceday at Epsom Downs Racecourse.

These include intentionally causing objects to enter the racetrack, entering the parade ring, entering and/or remaining on the horses’ route to the parade ring and to the racetrack without authorisation, and intentionally endangering any person at the venue.

Individuals acting in breach of the court order, which apply to every meeting at the track, could be subject to proceedings for contempt of court, which may lead to a fine and/or imprisonment.

The Jockey Club said it hoped the granting of a final injunction will help prevent protests like the ones staged by Animal Rising at the 2023 Grand National at Aintree and the Derby at Epsom Downs last year.

Chief executive Nevin Truesdale said: “The interim injunction which was granted last May has remained in place for all fixtures staged at Epsom Downs since and has proved a very effective deterrent to those who had been considering illegally and irresponsibly protesting on racedays, with potential unknown and dangerous consequences for jockeys, racegoers and the horses themselves.

“We have always said that we will do everything in our power to ensure that the safety of all horses, participants, racegoers and our employees is not compromised by such reckless actions and we are extremely pleased that this final injunction to restrain acts of trespass will keep the current restrictions in place for up to a further five years.

“We will never tolerate or acquiesce in a repeat of the disruption we saw last year and we welcome this High Court ruling.”