Shameless at the races: Football stars hit a new low at Cheltenham as one appears to relieve himself into a glass then throw it over the side of their box while their female companions flash their chests. A group of professional footballers brought shame on themselves as they and their friends were caught urinating into glasses before pouring the contents of at least one over a balcony as the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival descended into drunken mayhem. The disgusting acts were caught on camera as the deplorably behaved 'VIP' group brought the day's regal festivities to a loutish, booze-fuelled conclusion. Photographs appear to show MK Dons midfielder Samir Carruthers relieve himself into an empty pint glass before standing it on the top of the exclusive balcony's metal railing, in danger of being knocked on to passers by below. An unidentified mate then goes one worse - urinating into a long glass before tossing its contents over the balcony. The sickening acts were done well within the view of thousands of racegoers from behind a glass fronted platform. It is not yet known if any revellers were standing beneath the viewing box when the urine was thrown over. Former Arsenal and Aston Villa player Carruthers was pictured at the horse racing with Bristol City defender Luke Ayling. They are also said to have been with Premier League Norwich City’s Josh Murphy, Brighton’s Jake Forster-Caskey and Bristol City’s Richard O’Donnell. The players were joined in one of the ancient racecourse's packed private box by a number of other drunken looking guests - including reality TV star Jessica Hayes and glamour model Katie Salmon, who flashed their breasts to the thousands gathered below. The pair - Salmon in a revealing black keyhole number, Hayes in white - wore massive grins and stuck their tongues out as they showed off their busts while puffing on cigarettes. Mostly all of the revellers in the exclusive balcony area were swigging from Champagne flutes, downing spirits and toasting pints of lager. MK Dons are said to have launched an investigation into Carruthers' behaviour. The group's loutish behaviour will have certainly raised eyebrows amongst the festival's loyal - and often regal - following. Earlier in the day the Queen's granddaughter Zara Tindall was spotted in the stands wearing a chic plum-coloured coat with a high neck. Photographs showed her looking more than a little shocked when a group of scantily-clad revellers walked past her box. Model agent Verena Twigg, who was dressed in a low-cut jumpsuit, was joined by reality TV stars Amanda Harrington, Charlotte Dawson, and Jess Hayes - all of whom were wearing larger than life ensembles. Despite temperatures being a cool 11 degrees, many racegoers were still determined to make a statement and defiantly donned short skirts and heels. Mention the Cheltenham Festival to most people and it will conjure up visions of the late Queen Mother; of dim and distant tales of Arkle storming home to win the 1964 Gold Cup; of dear old Desert Orchid doing the same in 1989 — an event voted The Race of The Century by the readers of the Racing Post. Others will associate it with the vast, good-natured Irish contingent who always raise the roof with the famous ‘Cheltenham Roar’. (This is an event that always falls on or around St Patrick’s Day.) Dating back to 1860, it is, for many, the epitome of National Hunt racing. Aintree may have its rumbustious Grand National but, for many true believers, Cheltenham is the grandest of the great meetings. Or at least it was. These shocking scenes, captured during the last race of yesterday’s opening afternoon, are more reminiscent of a documentary on debauched Brits in some God-forsaken holiday resort. Yet this was the sight overlooking the famous course just up from the Cheltenham finish line yesterday.

• published: 16 Mar 2016
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