Two people shot and another stabbed as 30-man brawl breaks out at racecourse
A MASS brawl and shooting at a racecourse in Argentina has left three people hospitalised.
Two people sustained gunshot wounds while another was stabbed at the La Plata Racecourse, located in the city of La Plata on the north-east coast around 31 miles away from Buenos Aires.
It came after a brawl broke out at the racecourse following a dispute between the racecourse and jockeys over the payments of prize-money and working conditions.
The jockey’s union was set to meet with racecourse staff before the days 11-race card.
However, some of the members had already gone on strike and forced the meeting to be abandoned, with tensions boiling over into violence shortly after.
Pictures and videos shared to social media showed one of the two gunmen at the site opening fire.
A clip shows a gunman running towards the brawl, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a gun before a shot is heard.
Another video shows a man being treated for a knee injury while a jockey was shouting.
The gunman was later arrested, with the racecourse releasing a statement condemning the “unjustified and arbitrary interference”.
It added: “We repudiate the acts of violence experienced today at noon in the oval sector as a result of a union dispute.
“As a result, there were two gunshot wounds and one stab wound.”
Safety concerns have postponed a next meeting while the course is closed until further notice.