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Epsom Derby: Pleas Of Animal Rising Supporters Blocked At Staines Magistrate Court


Image: Six of the campaigners that attended Staines Magistrates Court on 4/4/25
Image: Six of the campaigners that attended Staines Magistrates Court on 4/4/25

  • On 4/4/25, eight Animal Rising campaigners attended to make pleas to the charge of “conspiracy to commit public nuisance” at Staines Magistrates Court. However, they were informed on the day that nobody would formally plead and instead will appear at Guildford Crown Court to do so on 6/5/25. Two additional campaigners have a hearing on 9/4/25 at Staines Magistrates Court.

  • Of those that attended today, five gave indications of pleading not guilty and three gave indications of pleading guilty.

  • All ten were arrested at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 3/6/23 while bringing attention to cruelty and suffering in the horse racing industry, but before they stepped foot on the race track [1].

  • One protestor has already been charged and sentenced for causing a public nuisance on the same day at Epsom, receiving costs and a suspended sentence [2].


Today, at Staines Magistrates Court, ten individuals were expecting to make pleas in relation to charges of conspiracy to commit public nuisance at Epsom racecourse in June 2023. Instead, they gave indicative pleas and have been bailed to appear at Guildford Crown Court on 5th May 2025 to formally make their pleas.Animal Rising has said their actions “helped shine the spotlight onto our broken relationship with other animals and the natural world.” Since this protest at Epsom, at least 333 horses have died as a result of horse racing [3]. The Epsom Derby was also disrupted by supporters of Animal Rising in 2022, however charges against them of public nuisance were dropped in 2024 [4].


The controversy of the sport has been in the spotlight since Animal Rising’s series of disruptions in 2023. Three horses died on the same day at Cheltenham racecourse last November, with Abuffalosoldier dying live on TV just after he won a race, causing extreme distress to viewers [5]. Two horses have died at Epsom racecourse since the 2023 protest, Daphne May and Tears Of A Clown [6]. 


Rose Patterson, 35, of Dalston, one of those that attended to make a plea today, said:
“This weekend brings yet another episode of televised cruelty in the form of the Grand National, even though the British public are moving away from cruel and harmful industries like horse racing. As the truth about the breaking-in, whipping, injuries, and deaths that happen comes to light we are seeing a drop in attendance at these events.
"How many horses have to die, like Willy De Houelle just yesterday, before we truly embrace what it means to be a nation of animal lovers? We must work together to create a world where the animals currently trapped in horse racing, greyhound racing, and other bloodsports can instead live free and happy lives.”

Animal Rising is a social movement to create a new relationship with all beings and give us a chance for a safe ecological future. The group primarily calls for the transition to a secure and sustainable plant-based food system, alongside a mass rewilding programme.


ENDS

Word count: 525


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Emma (Press Back Office)  +44 1225 29 6691


Notes to the Editor:

[3] According to Animal Aid's Race Horse Deathwatch website www.horsedeathwatch.com 


 
 
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