OstendOne of the nine racing days of Ostend Koerse was stopped early on Monday evening. A fight, in which about twenty jockeys were involved, according to the police, was the cause. One person had to be taken to hospital. “The few who are responsible for this will be banned from entering,” says organizer Olivier Orlans.
The local police of Ostend were called to the Wellington track on Monday evening around 7 p.m. There was, like every Monday in July and August, a race day of Ostend Koerse. At the event, it turned out that a disagreement had arisen between two groups of jockeys. The situation deteriorated and a fight broke out. “One person was injured and had to be transferred to hospital for treatment,” said spokesperson Eline Goeminne of the local Ostend police. “Some hotheads were evicted and identified by our services.”
Entry ban
The organization nuances the facts. “Two groups of jockeys, but especially their entourage, got involved in a discussion because of a feud that had been going on for some time,” says Olivier Orlans. “Three of them have started fighting effectively. Someone who intervened was struck and fell backwards. He was taken to hospital, but has since recovered. That reassures us.”
Orlans takes the facts seriously. “It is a pity that the atmosphere is spoiled by a few,” he says. “Such things should not happen. Those responsible for this fight are therefore banned from entry through the federation. In ten years we have never had any problems. Ostend Koerse is intended to remain a party, but luckily the evening was already coming to an end when the facts took place.” After the fight, the organization decided to turn off the music and end the festivities early, and the police issued a report for assault and battery.
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