Drunken carnage at the races as 85,000 punters get legless celebrating the Melbourne Cup

6 months ago 35

DRUNKEN carnage broke out at the races as 85,000 punters got legless celebrating the Melbourne Cup.

Racegoers ploughed into Flemington racecourse in Australia to see 7-1 hotshot Without A Fight thrash rivals and give jockey Mark Zahra back-to-back wins in the ‘race that stops a nation’.

This woman was a faller after she collapsed in her chair – but crucially held on to her drink[/caption]

Punters partied the night away after a big day drinking and betting on the horses[/caption]

It all got a bit too much for this racegoer who looked to be falling asleep after falling back in his seat[/caption]

There was a police presence trying to keep some sort of order at the track[/caption]

Two punters carried bottles of red wine round with them as the party got into full swing[/caption]

These racegoers had to watch their step as they made their way through all the rubbish[/caption]

But the party really started after the last race when revellers showed the effects of a big day’s drinking and betting.

One woman lost control completely as she fell backwards off her seat and crashed into the ground – while still clutching her drink.

Her mates were in stitches watching her tumble over with just one shoe on.

Another bloke fell backwards off his chair with his head narrowly missing a pile of cans that had built up on the floor.

Others kicked off their heels and partied and danced to a live band while police patrolled the enclosures.

Racegoers left drinks and litter strewn everywhere after they went all out celebrating Derby Day last weekend.

And it looked like a repeat was on the cards after Without A Fight stunned red-hot favourite Vauban to the £2.5million winner’s prize.

Genius Irish trainer Willie Mullins’ Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot-winning star was all the rage with punters for weeks before the off.

But a late drift in the market told as he faded to 14th after hitting the front a couple of furlongs from home.

Zahra – who was fined £26,000 after winning on Without A Fight two weeks ago – flew home down the centre of the track.

Although he branded himself an ‘idiot’ for his celebration when speaking afterwards.

He stuck two fingers up at the crowd to mark winning the race in successive years after victory on Gold Trip 12 months ago.

And he said: “I was giving the two fingers signal for two winners. I don’t know what I was thinking. Idiot.”

There was no joy for the British and Irish raiders Down Under, with Mullins’ 8-1 chance Absurde the best in seventh.

Australian speedball Soulcombe finished second at 17-2 while there was a huge shock in third courtesy of 150-1 outsider Sheraz.

Good luck if you found the fourth, fifth and sixth as well as Ashrun, Daqiansweet Junior and Interpretation came in at 25-1, 50-1 and 40-1 respectively.

Frankie Dettori didn’t have a ride in the race but appeared on TV ahead of his rumoured appearance on I’m a Celeb.

The world’s most famous jockey is said to be getting around £500,000 for braving it in the jungle.

But he said there were ‘medical reasons’ he had to wear sunglasses during a brief interview.

Dettori, who recently performed a retirement U-turn to keep racing in the United States, said: “I had lenses put in my eyes three months ago so the lights are quite bright for me. I have medical reasons.”