Ladies Day at Aintree turned ugly today as a brawl broke out between a group of young men who threw punches at each other as shocked racegoers watched on.
Shocking photos show a man in a grey suit with blood around his mouth seemingly preparing to punch another racegoer, who holds one hand up in an apparent attempt to dissuade him.
A second image shows the moment another grimacing thug made contact with a rival’s left ear, with a third showing a number of men scuffling together in the middle of a huge crowd.
The brawl follows another fight during a private event at Aintree in December, with punters exchanging punches and kicks other as security guards appeared to just watch on.
The Grand National is one of the biggest days in the racing calendar, but like other races regularly plays host to outbreaks of drunken violence among a small minority of the crowd.
Shocking photos show a man in a grey suit with blood around his mouth seemingly preparing to punch another racegoer, who holds one hand up in an apparent attempt to dissuade him
A second image shows the moment another grimacing thug made contact with a rival’s left ear
A third shows a number of men scuffling together in the middle of a huge crowd
Away from the disgraceful scenes most racegoers embraced the Ladies Day atmosphere dressing up in their finery.
While the festival is all about horse racing, today is the day racing fans take part in a competition to win the coveted cash prize after being crowned best dressed.
As the day went on, revellers sipped on champagne and showed off their best moves, proving that teetering stilettos were no match for the dance floor.
One woman was pictured drinking from the bottle as her friends smiled for pictures and two other racegoers were snapped clinking their champagne glasses together to celebrate day two of Aintree.
Excited friends topped up each other’s bubbly as they prepared for a day full of sophistication, excitement and of course, racing.
The earliest arrivals at the racecourse brought bright shades and fabulous headwear, but they had to clutch onto their large fascinators as they battled blustery winds in Liverpool.
One racegoer opted for a deep purple and butter yellow combination in a figure-hugging dress teamed with an elaborate floral fascinator.
Another chose a teal frock with a structured collar, which was paired with a very summery yellow netted fascinator which complemented her blonde bob perfectly.
In another ode to the natural world, a fellow reveller arrived in a multicoloured flowing maxi dress which she accessorised with a blue fascinator featuring a stunning fuchsia floral print.
The stunning fashion displays follow a first day of excitement on the racecourse where party-loving racegoers enjoyed an evening of fun after nail-biting action on the course.
Love Islander Claudia Fogarty was pictured at the event, donning a strapless hot pink noughties-inspired dress.
She paired this with white heels and a matching Jacquemus bag with statement gold dangly earrings.
Jollier scenes: One woman is pictured drinking from the bottle as her friend cheers her on in Liverpool today
A group of friends are pictured enjoying themselves at Aintree today, as one woman smiles at the camera with a drink in her hand
Three revellers put on a very leggy display as they attended the festival dressed in short patterned dresses, large floppy hats and heels
Unlike Royal Ascot which adopts stricter rules on what to wear, Aintree takes a more relaxed approach and tells attendees to simply come ‘dressed to feel your best’.
Fancy dress for revellers is also allowed, as long as the costume isn’t offensive or derogatory.
One woman even showed off her love for Manchester United, as she donned a bardot dress which showed off her tattoo.
And the police could not hide their excitement either, with snaps of officers smiling at some of the creative and bright outfits that racegoers were wearing.
Around 150,000 people are expected to attend the three-day festival, making it one of the largest of its kind in the world, over the next few days.
Celebrities, including Liverpool legend John Barnes, were among the guests in attendance.
The former England star opted for a tweed look while his wife Andrea channelled Minnie Mouse chic in a navy polka dot dress and red cardigan.
A woman is dressed in a nude gemstone embroidered plunging dress as she arrives at the race event
A woman is pictured downing a bottle of bubbly at the event in Liverpool today
This reveller wore a sapphire-blue dress with a large split that goes up to her thigh, paired with a fluffy coat