However, while celebrations began, the team of Country House, who finished second in the race, raised an objection against the winner. Officials deliberated for over thirty minutes, before eventually disqualifying Maximum Security and handing victory to Country House.
This is the first time in the race’s history that a winner was disqualified. It was especially painful for Maximum Security’s team, as the horse had led the pack for almost all of the race.
Officials looked back to video replays and ruled that the horse had violated interference rules. Replays showed that Maximum Security had altered the paths of a number of horses, including War of Will, Long Rage Toddy, and Country House, after a stumble. With Country House coming in second, his team immediately lodged the complaint.
Gary West, owner of Maximum Security, filed an appeal after the race via an attorney. However, the racing commission did warn that the decision was not subject to appeal, so hopes of the decision being overturned were low.
Even US president Donald Trump reacted to the news, tweeting his dismay at the result. Owner West took the result a bit more graciously, although he did feel some interference was inevitable due to the number of horses that race in the derby. Unlike in most other US races where 14 horses compete, the Kentucky Derby features 20. West said:
Winning it was the most euphoric thing I have probably ever had in our lives and disappointment when they took the horse down for the first time in history, we were stunned, shocked and in total disbelief. It had never been done before. Churchill Downs, because they’re a greedy organization, has (20 horses) rather than 14 like you have in the Kentucky Oaks, the Breeders’ Cup, every other race in America. Just because they can make more money, they’re willing to risk horses’ lives and peoples’ lives to do that. I’m not a fan of that. I think they ought to have 14 like every other race. Yes I saw the horse move out, but every Kentucky Derby, you could sit down two or three or four horses if you wanted to, because it’s like a rodeo out there– Gary West, Owner Maximum Security
