First DQ in 145 years of Derby History
Maximum Security, a very talented horse, veered out approaching home, interfering with another horse in the 4th path. Then he veered back to the rail, interfering with another one.
He was taken down by the stewards, correctly. It was fortunate that tragedy did not happen, clipping heels and unseating riders. The 145th Debry could have become a nightmare race for years to remember.
The president tweeted:
“The Kentucky Derby [sic] decision was not a good one. It was a rough and tumble race on a wet and sloppy track, actually, a beautiful thing to watch. Only in these days of political correctness could such an overturn occur. The best horse did NOT win the Kentucky Derby—not even close!”.
I am very sorry he said that. It was an ignorant statement that had nothing to do with how the race was run.
I back Trump in everything else but he should not have made this comment: it generated uncalled for sentiments that were completely unfounded.
He was taken down by the stewards, correctly. It was fortunate that tragedy did not happen, clipping heels and unseating riders. The 145th Debry could have become a nightmare race for years to remember.
The president tweeted:
“The Kentucky Derby [sic] decision was not a good one. It was a rough and tumble race on a wet and sloppy track, actually, a beautiful thing to watch. Only in these days of political correctness could such an overturn occur. The best horse did NOT win the Kentucky Derby—not even close!”.
I am very sorry he said that. It was an ignorant statement that had nothing to do with how the race was run.
I back Trump in everything else but he should not have made this comment: it generated uncalled for sentiments that were completely unfounded.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/sp...
Thanks, but I don't need any "help".
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...
""Because the stewards' disqualification determination is not subject to appeal and for the reasons set forth below, your request for an appeal is denied," the letter from Forgy said. "Consequently, your request for stay pending appeal is moot because the law does not provide for an appeal."
The appeal denial letter noted that as a license condition for racing in Kentucky, every licensee agrees to abide by the commission's rules and regulations. It cited the rule that "stewards findings of fact and determination shall be final and not be subject to appeal."
In response to the KHRC's decision, Gary West said, "We will now file suit in the appropriate jurisdiction."
West is spinning wheels. The DQ will not be reversed. The facts are there.
The DQ was not the result of rounding.
Watch the videos again if you need help.
Generally, it means the horse runs in a straight line.
According to the video I posted that the Wests are basing their appeal on, War of Will moved close to the rail from the 2 path, behind Max Security and may or may not have made contact with him. According to West, this was the trigger for MS to veer out and impede with Long Range Toddy, Tacitus, Country House and Bodexpress.
However, he did not stay in the 4th path, but veered back to the rail, interfering with Code of Honor.
It will be an uphill battle to have the DQ reversed.
The distribution of winnings and wagers are on hold until the appeal is settled.
https://www.horseracingnation.com/new...
They are saying that War of Will (behind Max Security) had contact with him and that is why MS veered out.
There are many fatalities caused by other means on the track and we don't want to add another reason by ignoring racing rules.
Yes, TBs love to run but they should be controlled in the process of doing so. And they are very good at that, too.
Have you ever seen young horses in training on the track, running every which way, drifting and veering left and right?
You can't have that in a race. If you think it over, you'll see the logic of it.
The rider of Country House Flavien Prat stated that he had to assume a sideways position as Max Security impeded. Even a split second disturbance causes the loss of momentum, and the loss of precious seconds.
What is not mentioned in the many reports covering the race that the rider of Long Range Toddy, Jon Court also launched an objection, after Prat, which actually precipitated the stewards' inquiry.
The rider of War of Will declined to object: out of friendship and reverence for the owners.
Max Security impeded three horses, not to mention Code of Honor at the rail, as he swung back after his veering out.
He is a beautiful and talented horse and it is a shame it happened. But the excuse that the track was sloppy is a lame one: the Derby has been run under worse conditions before, and the horses made it without incident.
One unwritten rule regarding the Derby that the best horse does not always win. In fact, the best horse loses most of the time. We have been lucky to have American Pharoah and Justify to defeat that myth.
But the fact remains that the Derby is the first major test for 3 yos: First time they run 10 furlongs, first time they run against a field of 20, first time they are faced with the roar of a 150,000+ crowd and the first time of running at Churchill Downs.
Taken together, it is the most difficult race to handicap.
The horse that did get the roses started on the far outside of the track and ran on the outside the entire race, enduring that distance penalty and still having enough guts to nearly win the race without any penalty.
Country House could be a horse to watch in the Belmont and with a better post position may be a force in the Preakness as well.
You can't move across lanes when you are ahead if you are interfering with other contenders.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/05/sp...
You can see in the last photo that Max Security and War of Will almost clipped heels, which would have resulted in a catastrophic pile up of horses and jockeys. We are lucky everybody came home on his own feet.
Your suggested scenario would result is crashes in a NASCAR race as well. You may do it when you are well ahead. But Max Security was not well ahead.
Those are the ones screaming the loudest.
It is no laughing matter at all.
Don't be blinded by the morning line. These youngsters are maturing, and far from their full potential.
It is a blasphemy that Thoroughbred athletes are subjected to the vagaries of the racing public, many of them have no idea about the basics.
These horses are abused from the time they are born. They are lucky if they wind up with an owner who cares about their well being.
The racing industry is undergoing another crisis due to high levels of fatalities on the track. It is not the first time. Unless fundamental changes are implemented, it will self distract.
Other long shots who won the Derby:
Mine That Bird 50/1
Giacomo 50/1
Just to name two.
Load more comments...