Maximum Security!
No, wait! Country House!
Equestrians, gamblers, and spectators went wild when the first horse to cross the finish line at the Kentucky Derby was stripped of its victory. After stewards demoted odds-on favorite Maximum Security to 17th place for interference, they declared 65-to-1 runner-up Country House the winner.
Viewers across the U.S. reacted with varying levels of approval or outrage, and even President Trump weighed in on the controversial decision, tweeting, “The Kentucky Derby decision was not a good one.” Some authorities on the subject concurred. Horse race betting expert Andy Beyer wrote for the Washington Post, “Yes, there was a foul. No, it didn’t merit a historic disqualification.”
It’s debatable whether Maximum Security’s interference was worth the disqualification, a rare occurrence in any sport and the first of its kind at the Kentucky Derby. Another apparent winner was disqualified in 1968 for prohibited medication, but no horse has ever lost its Kentucky Derby victory because of an interference.
The 145th Kentucky Derby reminded some of Steve Harvey’s 2015 Miss Universe gaffe, where instead of reading the name of the winner, Miss Philippines, the comedian announced the crown would go to Miss Colombia. Still on stage, Harvey realized his mistake, and Miss Colombia’s crown was literally taken from her and given to the real Miss Universe.
In another famous fake-out, the Academy Awards announced “La La Land” as its best picture winner in 2017. The only problem was that the cards had been mixed up, and the winner was actually “Moonlight.” So a disappointed producer handed the Oscar off to “Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins.
Such goofs are disappointing for everyone involved, from the devastated losing party to the winner whose victory is shrouded by controversy. “I feel terrible that I have to apologize for winning,” Country House trainer Bill Mott said the day after the Kentucky Derby.
One silver lining is that controversy generates attention, with people who don’t normally care about beauty pageants or movie awards or horse races weighing in. Some even speculated that Harvey’s blunder was a publicity stunt to boost Miss Universe’s flagging popularity. Actress Salma Hayek took a sweet, perhaps naive, view of the “La La Land” snafu, saying after the ceremony, “I am just glad at least two movies got to get up on stage and be celebrating.”
Maximum Security’s unhappy co-owner Gary West is taking his unexpected loss less smoothly. West said the horse will not compete in the upcoming Preakness Stakes, and he will appeal the stewards’ decision. It’s unlikely, though, that the winner of the 145th Kentucky Derby will now change, which is disappointing for West, jockey Luis Saez, and everyone who bet on Maximum Security.
It stings to lose, but it hurts even worse when you first think you’ve won.
