And they’re off! One in 15 racegoers have admitted having sex at Britain’s top courses.
As horses romp to victory, punters are indulging in romps of their own – with Newbury the worst for racy antics.
In all, nearly one in ten race fans confessed to either having sex, taking drugs or fighting.
Goodwood is ahead by a nose for drug use – and is also in a photo-finish with Cheltenham for fighting.
Evidence of bad behaviour was rampant at Royal Ascot this month when police had to break up a drink-fuelled mass brawl beside the track as the Queen cheered on horses from the Royal Box.
And sniffer dogs were drafted in to the event to clamp down on racegoers snorting cocaine in the toilets.
But a survey has revealed such anti-social antics are widespread, with some of the country’s most famous tracks – Aintree, Ascot and Newmarket – among the worst affected.
Nearly eight per cent of racegoers at Newbury admitted having sex in the stands or near the track – twice as many as at York.
At Goodwood, 9.5 per cent told the survey of 1,000 race-goers by myracing.com they had taken drugs on the course, and seven per cent at Haydock.
At Windsor only two per cent had taken drugs, while five per cent had got in a fight.
But it came second place for having sex, at 7.8 per cent.
MyRacing’s Jake Apperley said: “The UK loves a day at the races and it’s definitely the biggest day in some calendars.
“But the excitement of the day, combined with the drinks, is clearly getting the better of some people.”
