Oaks Day falling and brawling as punters continue to celebrate in traditional style

FROM Goanna Pulls on Derby Day, to piggy back rides around Flemington at the Cup — Oaks Day has proved to be just as messy as the rest.

THOUSANDS of revellers descended on Flemington racecourse for Oaks Day, which has been dubbed ‘Ladies Day’ for years, and once again it lived up to its reputation for drunken debauchery.

The day started well with a Women in Sport event held by Victoria Racing Club where the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, Michelle Payne, shone a light on gender inequality. Myer was also touting girl power, holding an invite-only lunch with some of Australia’s influential women including former ‘first daughter’ Frances Abbott, AFL Women’s players Moana Hope and Daisy Pearce and social media influencers Nadia Bartel and Stephanie Claire Smith.

But, out on the lawn, things got a little messy as the day went on.

Oaks Day is the third day of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Picture: Splash News

Mmm, no, that’s not a horse. Picture: Getty Images

Giddy up. Picture: Getty Images

As the day wore on, punters started to get a little rowdy on the lawn. Picture: Getty Images

Oaks Day enjoyed warmer conditions than what was experienced at the Cup. Picture: David Caird

It looked like love was blossoming on the field, with more than 70,000 punters packing in to Flemington for the penultimate of the spring racing season.

Unlike Melbourne Cup two days prior (which had a top of just 15 degrees trackside) racegoers enjoyed sunny conditions, which only encouraged the festivities.

With 70,000 racegoers descending on Flemington, chances are you might find love ... or at least a kiss.

Forget the Bachelor, General Admin is where love is at. Picture: David Caird

If you thought Melbourne Cup was messy. Picture: Splash News.

The spring racing week kicked off on Saturday, with Derby Day attracting about 90,000 racegoers to Flemington.

Pictures from Saturday’s Spring Carnival favourite showed how much racegoers enjoyed their day; which saw a dress disaster, people talking to statues and a strange game called “goanna pull”.

On Tuesday, punters shivered through the coldest Cup days experienced in years — with tops of just 15 degrees on the track.

Three people were evicted for bad behaviour and two were arrested for drunkenness, while security guards removed four other intoxicated patrons.

Police arrested a woman for assaulting an anti-racing protester outside the ground and are searching for two other women linked to the assault.

A gentleman gives a lady a lift home. How generous. Picture: David Caird

We’ve all been there. Picture: Getty Images

Racegoers experienced much warmer weather than on Melbourne Cup day. Picture: AAP Image/David Crosling

When all that champagne becomes a little too much. Picture: Splash News

Until next year.