Upon Further Review: How Maximum Security Was Disqualified From the Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After a strained survey period that kept going over 20 minutes, after the obvious winning associations had just been met on live TV, the three stewards at Churchill Downs on Saturday settled on the troublesome choice to exclude Maximum Security for meddling with different ponies around the last turn and gave the Kentucky Derby triumph to the 65-1 shot Country House. In the 145-year history of the Derby, no other pony had lost a success for such a demonstration. 

A protest is a case of foul held up by a rider, a watch judge or another dashing authority. The stewards, who regulate races for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and for Churchill Downs, got the opportunity to work examining replays of the race, with a huge number of dollars riding on their choice. They examined each accessible edge of the race on screens in a minor clubhouse office high over the course. 

This activity has existed for a long time in America's most seasoned game, basically making stewards the pioneers of video survey. Focused on ensuring bettors, they avoid locate and seldom address the news media, so it was an odd sight on Saturday when the stewards — Barbara Borden, boss steward of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission; Brooks A. Becraft, a state steward; and Tyler Picklesimer, a track steward — were on the platform normally held for the victors of America's greatest steed race. 

Borden read an announcement clarifying the choice. She declined to take any inquiries. (The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is a state government organization accused of controlling the direct of pony dashing and parimutuel betting on steed hustling and related exercises.) 

She clarified that the riders of No. 18, Long Range Toddy, and No. 20, Country House, had held up grievances against Maximum Security, saying there had been impedance as they left the quarter-post and set out toward home. 

"We had a protracted audit of the race," Borden said. "We met influenced riders." She said the stewards had consistently concurred that Maximum Security floated out and influenced the advancement of No. 1, War of Will, thusly meddling with Long Range Toddy and No. 21, Bodexpress. 

"Those ponies were altogether influenced, we thought, by the impedance," she said. "In this manner, we collectively resolved to preclude No. 7 and spot him behind the 18, the 18 being the most reduced put horse that he annoyed, which is our run of the mill strategy." That made Maximum Security the seventeenth spot finisher authoritatively. 

Nation House turned into the principal steed to win the Derby on a complaint; Dancer's Image was precluded in 1968 after a post-race urinalysis discovered hints of a prohibited substance, and Forward Pass was announced the champ. 

"On the off chance that it were a lady guaranteeing race on a weekday, the victor would descend," Country House's mentor, Bill Mott, told NBC as he restlessly anticipated the stewards' choice with the 150,729 in participation and the endless others watching at home. 

Once in the victor's circle, a grinning if somewhat shocked Mott, a Hall of Famer, recognized it was an odd method to catch his first Derby win. 

"We'll simply need to substantiate ourselves later on," he said.