Violent clashes at Kempton

Violent scenes marred Saturday`s racemeeting at Kempton Park where police were called after a running fight between rival gangs broke out at the track.

The violence, which according to one eyewitness was believed to involve drunken football fans from Bristol on a coach trip to the races, erupted shortly after the 4.15 race.

According to another eyewitness, racecourse security staff were powerless to intervene as the fighting broke out in the Tattersalls enclosure.

Racecourse officials ordered the bars to be shut on police advice and fended off complaints from angry racegoers. An appliance from Surrey Ambulance Service also attended the scene.

Neal Wilkins, the on-course representative for bookmaker Victor Chandler, was in the betting ring when the violence flared.

He said: 'Shortly after the fifth race there had obviously been trouble brewing in the betting concourse area under the Tattersalls grandstand. A number of racegoers seemed aware that something was going to happen.

'I was going to go across to the paddock and when I went down the steps I saw seven young thugs kicking a guy dressed in just a white shirt and trousers.

'The guy was lying on the floor at the bottom of the steps and unable to defend himself.

'A number of people were watching the incident, including some of the blue-coated security men at Kempton racecourse. I`d just seen enough and pulled one huge fellow of this chap. The other six seemed to disperse when other people stepped forward and ran in separate directions, at which time the security people who had been watching it then stepped in.

'A few minutes later a running battle then occurred at the back of the Tattersalls enclosure where two yobs set upon one youth who was left prostrate on the ground, and they ran off back into the betting and drinking area.

'Yet again it highlights the problem of football violence with this being the first clear blank Saturday of the close season. I think it is about time that everybody realised that if they want to attract racegoers they`ve got to stop this element going racing.'

One racegoer, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'They were all gathered in the pub up the road from the racecourse and they were absolutely out of their faces at 1 o`clock today.

'They were from Bristol. They must have been dropped off at the pub by a coach. I saw one with a Bristol City shirt on.'

No arrests were made at the scene and according to a racecourse official, the ambulance crew treated only minor injuries.

Senior police officer in attendance, Sergeant Dabinett, said: 'We know there has been some fighting around the racecourse and we`re trying to identify which offenders are responsible.'

Kempton racecourse manager Julian Thick was reluctant to comment on the incident initially but when pressed he defended the actions of the course staff.

He said: 'All I can say is that there has been a disturbance and we`re very sorry it had to happen as it`s disturbed some of racegoers` day. It has been dealt with by the security staff and the police.

'We`re all disappointed when this type of behaviour occurs but we believe we dealt with it as efficiently and swiftly as we could. All of our gate staff are briefed that if people are clearly incapable they won`t be given admittance.

'In this case, and I`ve spoken to them since, nobody was incapable on the day at this point.

'I am happy we have done everything we could but of course in any situation like this we`ll be reviewing it as we review any incident that takes place.'