POLICE have confirmed that 24 people have been charged after trying to disrupt the Scottish Grand National yesterday.
Animal activists protested the races at Ayr over the weekend and attempted to delay the start of the event but were unsuccessful.
The race started at the correct time as police moved the protesters on and removed them from the race course.
It was reminiscent of the incident at last Saturday's Grand National at Aintree, but the authorities were well-planned for any potential disruption yesterday.
Organisers were "confident" that the event would take place at it's normal time and it went ahead as usual thanks to the police's intervention.
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Now the authorities have confirmed that 24 have been arrested as a result with everyone who has been nicked now charged in connection with breach of the peace.
All of the individuals are set to appear at Ayr Sheriff Court on Monday, June 5.
A statement from Police Scotland read: "Following the conclusion of the operation at Ayr Racecourse on Saturday, 22 April, 2023, the total number of people arrested and charged is 24.
"All are in connection with a breach of the peace.
"They have all been released, and are due to appear at Ayr Sheriff Court on Monday, 5 June, 2023."
Following the protests, Twitter account Animal Welfare Watch said: "Well done again Animal Rising for attempting to protest the Scottish Grand National ????
"Heroes ???? Animal Rising"
They later added: "Arrests have been made on the tracks at the Scottish Grand National, where supporters of Animal Rising attempted to put a stop to the cruelty that happens to horses there.
"Earlier on in the day Oscar Elite was needlessly killed on the track, demonstrating the extent of the tragedy that we are there trying to prevent.
"Imagine a world where no horse had to die on the track for people's entertainment. Together, as a nation of animal lovers, we can create this future. It's time we fix our broken relationship with other animals and the natural world - for all life!"
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