More embarrassing behaviour at Derby Day

DERBY Day is a Spring Carnival favourite — and while the crowds showed up in their elegant best, they certainly didn’t leave that way.

DERBY Day is a Spring Carnival favourite. Around 90,000 racegoers arrive in elegant black-and-white outfits to enjoy some trackside bubbles in the sun.

But even a barely legal 18-year-old can tell you that copious amounts of alcohol, too much time in the heat and little food is a dangerous combination.

It seems many have no intention of leaving with their dignity intact. Saturday was a busy day for security, police and paramedics in Melbourne, as the glamorous event descended into bedlam.

Special security guards searched public areas for alcohol brought to the racetrack, hidden in water bottles, zip-lock plastic bags, and even Pringles cans.

Straw hats, sunscreen and stubbie holders were the biggest sellers as punters gathered beside the track. By 3pm many were barefoot, and stripping off their clothing under the hot spring sun.

This woman gave security a run for their money.

Obviously something was pretty funny.

She was hauled to her feet and escorted out.

Derby Day was busy for the paramedics at St John’s Ambulance.

Inevitably, things get violent.

And really, really messy.

One man collapsed trying to do a headstand, as his mates egged him on. Another lay down among the rubbish, nursing his head. One guy even found a cricket bat, and started playing with the rubbish and some impromptu wickets made from sticks.

Of course, a few were violent, and there was always going to be vomit. Police made numerous arrests while St Johns Ambulance paramedics were kept busy treating drunk and dehydrated punters.

A woman in a stylish black dress and strappy heels was escorted from the track after lying down in the middle of a public area, giggling. She was still doubled-over with laughter as security dragged her to her feet and carried her out.

A police officer arrests an intoxicated man at the racetrack.

This guy is going to wake up with a serious headache.

This guy probably didn’t imagine his afternoon would end up like this.

This racegoer lay down in the rubbish to nurse his aching head.

This cricket enthusiast clearly got Flemington mixed up with the MCG.

Craig Lovett is responsible for the massive clean-up. He told news.com.au his team clears an estimated 250 tonnes of rubbish from Derby Day, which is more than the other three days of the Spring Carnival combined.

“Sometimes we’ll find the odd person who has left themselves in a car park or a marquee,” he said.

They also discover “lots and lots” of underwear as well as “stacks” of shoes and hundreds of pairs of sunglasses.

“One year we found an entire suit — the shirt, tie, shoes, socks. I have no idea what happened to the guy”.

Punters risk hefty on-the-spot fines of $622 for public drunkenness, or $777 if they’re drunk and disorderly.

Two people were arrested for “upskirting”, or photographing underneath women’s dresses and skirts, but police have released no further details.