The races at Cheltenham got off to a drunken start on Tuesday as revellers enjoyed a boozy first day at the festival.
As the four-day racing event in Gloucestershire kicked off, drinks were flowing freely as punters placed their bets on different horses.
While many were enjoying the festivities, a chaotic brawl broke out among a group of men inside the event.
The bust-up appeared to take place on Tuesday afternoon during the Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase, which was won by the horse Johnnywho.
During the brawl, a group of men could be seen holding back one man in a checkered grey suit while another was restrained on the floor.
The man in the checkered outfit then broke free from his restraints and a fight ensued involving numerous punters who pushed and shoved each other to the ground.
As the revellers continued to swing at each other one bystander marched up to the man wearing the checkered suit and punched him in the face, leaving him with a bloody nose.
Elsewhere, many other people kicked off the start of the races in glamourous style as they donned tweed and fur for the four-day event in Gloucestershire.
Racegoers kicked off the start of the event in glamourous style ahead of the four-day racing event in Gloucestershire
While many were enjoying the festivities, a chaotic brawl broke out among a group of men inside the event
The bust-up appeared to take place this afternoon during the Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase which was won by the horse Johnnywho
With spring around the corner and the occasion signalling the start of the British social season, revellers quickly got into the party spirit.
As big a draw for its fashion as the horse racing itself, Cheltenham attendees paraded down the racecourse in statement suits, tweed jackets and knee-high boots.
Whilst there were plenty of glamorous women at Tuesday’s event, the men certainly held their own, with some opting for brightly coloured statement suits, wacky windcheaters and overcoats.
Spirits were high as revellers gathered around large screens to watch the action unfold as drinks flowed freely.
Celebrities including Luke Littler joined King Charles’ niece Zara Tindall – a regular fixture at the races – who was spotted with her husband Mike.
The big race of the day was the Champion Hurdle where Lossiemouth – who is fondly known as the ‘Queen of Cheltenham’ – cruised to victory.
The ‘star mare’ won both the 2024 and 2025 winner of the Mares’ Hurdle and was the favourite 7/5 ahead of Tuesday’s race.
Trainer Willie Mullins told ITV: ‘She’s a star mare. To come back four years in a row, let alone win, that is incredible.
Drinks flowed freely at the event as revellers enjoyed the first day of racers
The big race of the day was the Champion Hurdle where Lossiemouth and her jockey Paul Townend (both pictured) cruised to victory
Zara Tindall – a regular fixture at the races – was spotted with her husband Rugby legend Mike Tindall in Cheltenham on Tuesday
‘When I put her cheek pieces on her I thought, wow, that’s the old Lossiemouth.’
Lossiemouth’s jockey Paul Townend said: ‘It’s easy when they have as much ability as she does. She turns up and she does her business.’
Meanwhile, the League Against Cruel Sports has called for a ‘boycott’ of the races following the death of a horse earlier on Tuesday.
Hansard, an eight-year-old gelding, suffered a fall while running on the flat in the Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase – the second race of the day.
The Jockey Club, which owns and operates Cheltenham Racecourse, said it was deemed the best course of action for him was to be ‘humanely euthanised’.
Emma Slawinski, chief executive of the charity, told the BBC: ‘The death of Hansard will sadden all animal lovers but tragically it’s not a surprise, as every year horses are raced to their deaths at the Cheltenham Festival.’
