Brawl breaks out at Aintree as bloodied male racegoers throw punches at each other in the stands after huge crowds enjoyed a day on the booze – as eight people are arrested

Ladies Day at Aintree turned ugly today when a brawl broke out between a group of young men who threw punches at each other in the stands as shocked racegoers looked on.

Merseyside Police have now confirmed that eight men have been arrested for offences, including four on suspicion of fraud and two men on suspicion of assault.

One man was arrested on suspicion of a drugs offense after being searched at the main entrance to the racecourse, and another was charged with being drunk and disorderly.

Shocking photos from the second day of the event in Liverpool today show a man in a gray suit with blood around his mouth apparently preparing to punch another racegoer, holding one hand up in an apparent attempt to discourage him.

A second image shows the moment another grinning thug made contact with a rival’s left ear, while a third shows several men huddling together amid a huge crowd.

Chief Inspector Iain Wyke, responsible for the policing operation for the event, said: ‘Ladies Day welcomed thousands more visitors to the festival and I would like to thank everyone for enjoying the day safely.

‘There were very few incidents to report as the vast majority of racegoers enjoyed it without causing any disruption. ‘We now look forward to tomorrow’s highlight of the racing calendar, the Grand National, which will attract even more crowds to Aintree Racecourse.

‘I would like to once again urge all attendees to arrive well in time, so that they can easily pass through security and enjoy the rest of the day.

‘I would also like to remind visitors that our officers will be on the course to discuss any issues or concerns with them so that we can take action on them.’

The brawl follows another at a private event in Aintree in December, which saw punters trading punches and kicks as security guards only appeared to watch.

The Grand National is one of the biggest days on the racing calendar, but like other races there are regular outbreaks of drunken violence among a small minority of the public.

Beyond the shameful 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 when racing fans take part in a competition to win the coveted cash prize after being crowned the best dressed.

As the day progressed, partygoers sipped champagne and showed off their best moves, proving that teetering stilettos were no match for the dance floor.

A woman was pictured drinking from the bottle as her friends smiled for photos and two other racegoers were snapped clinking their champagne glasses together to celebrate day two of Aintree.

Excited friends replenished each other’s bubbles as they prepared for a day of sophistication, excitement and of course racing.

The earliest arrivals at the racecourse brought bright shades and fantastic headgear, but they had to hold on to their large fascinators as they battled the gale-force winds in Liverpool.

One racegoer opted for a deep purple and butter yellow combination in a figure-hugging dress paired with an elaborate floral fascinator.

Another opted for a teal gown with a structured collar, paired with a very summery yellow mesh fascinator, which perfectly complemented her blonde bob.

In another ode to the natural world, a fellow celebrant arrived in a multicolored, flowing maxi dress which she accessorized with a blue fascinator with a beautiful fuchsia floral print.

The stunning fashion shows follow an exciting first day on the racecourse, where partygoers enjoyed an evening of fun after nerve-wracking action on the track.

Love Islander Claudia Fogarty was pictured at the event wearing a strapless bright pink, 1990s-inspired dress.

She paired this with white heels and a matching Jacquemus bag with statement gold dangling earrings.

Unlike Royal Ascot, which has stricter rules on what to wear, Aintree takes a more relaxed approach, telling attendees to ‘simply come dressed to feel your best’.

Fancy dress for partygoers is also permitted, as long as the costume is not offensive or derogatory.

One woman even showed her love for Manchester United by donning a bardot dress that showed off her tattoo.

And the police couldn’t hide their excitement either, with photos of officers smiling at some of the creative and cheerful outfits 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 in the coming days.

Guests in attendance included celebrities including Liverpool legend John Barnes.

The former England star opted for a tweed look, while his wife Andrea channeled Minnie Mouse chic in a navy blue polka dot dress and red cardigan.