Two shot and one stabbed as mass brawl breaks out at Argentinian racecourse

Two people sustained gunshot wounds and another was stabbed when violence erupted at a race meeting in Argentina on Tuesday.

Around 30 people were involved in a brawl at La Plata racecourse, located in the city of La Plata on the north-east coast of Argentina around 50 kilometres from Buenos Aries. Social media images show one of two men who were carrying firearms opening fire. Two people were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds, while another sustained a knife injury.

One clip shows a gunman running towards the brawl, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a gun before a shot is heard. Other footage shows a man being treated for a knee injury in his underwear, and a jockey shouting.

• Watch the footage here

A man is treated for an injury on his left legCredit: Eldia

The incident was sparked following a dispute between the racecourse and jockeys over payments of prize-money and working conditions. 

The jockeys' union was to meet with racecourse staff before the 11-race card but some of its members had gone on strike before it started, forcing the meeting to be abandoned. The violence broke out shortly afterwards.

The gunman was later arrested and the racecourse released a statement condemning the "unjustified and arbitrary interference". Its next meetings will not be staged due to safety concerns and the course has been closed until further notice. 

A further statement 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."

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