On Sunday morning, Trump weighed in on the controversial decision the day before to disqualify the horse that crossed the finish line first at the 145th Kentucky Derby. Racing officials determined after the event on Saturday that the horse Maximum Security, the first-place finisher, had swerved into another horse’s path and thus could not win the crown. The 65–1 long shot Country House was instead named the winner. The president sent out a tweet expressing his displeasure with the decision and implying that the “wet and sloppy track” was actually at fault. He also suggested that “political correctness” had played a role in the upset: Advertisement The Kentucky Derby decision was not a good one. It was a rough & 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! Advertisement Advertisement This is the first time in history that the apparent winner of the Derby has been disqualified, and also undoubtedly the first time that a sitting president has tweeted to quibble with the outcome. As Politico points out, former New York City mayor and current attorney for the president Rudy Giuliani retweeted Trump’s complaint and also voiced his support for Maximum Security, writing, “This horse stood up to all challengers and was stronger at the end.” Advertisement This isn’t the first time that the president has made accusations about “political correctness” in sports. Trump sent a fundraising email to his supporters in September blasting ESPN for its “spineless surrender to the politically correct liberal mob” after the network announced that it would not be broadcasting the national anthem before Monday night football games, despite the fact that this was a policy held over from previous seasons. Trump’s attack followed his long feud with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who started a movement among athletes to kneel during the anthem to protest police brutality.<doc-sep>LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Everyone was standing around on the muddy ooze of the Churchill Downs racetrack, and nothing was happening. The adrenaline rush of the Kentucky Derby had given way to a surreal limbo. The trainers, jockeys and owners connected to two racehorses had nothing to do. Stable hands cooled down the colts, walking them in circles, waiting for news. A grandstand packed with boozed and confused fans buzzed with uncertainty. These were the longest, strangest minutes in the 145-year history of the Kentucky Derby. The first-ever racing disqualification of a Derby winner was being deliberated in a room seven floors above the track. Maximum Security had generated maximum controversy. The aftermath of this race usually unfolds like clockwork, and the mechanisms were all in place. The winner’s circle beckoned, the gold trophy was sitting there, the governor of Kentucky was standing by to award it, and the blanket of roses was prepared to be draped across the shoulders of the champion. But which horse was it? Favorite Maximum Security or 65-to-1 longshot Country House? Maximum Security had reached the wire first, but as his connections and thousands of bettors began to rejoice, an ominous message came over the track public address system: “The result of the race is unofficial. Hold all tickets.” A rider’s objection had been filed with the racing stewards. In many instances, an inquiry is started by the stewards themselves — but they did not initiate one in this instance. This one was started by jockeys Flavien Prat of Country House and Jon Court of Long Range Toddy. They claimed that Maximum Security interfered with horses as they were rounding the far turn. “It got pretty gnarly,” said Long Range Toddy jockey Jon Court, and replays confirmed his assessment. Both Court and War of Will rider Tyler Gaffalione had to check up sharply when Maximum Security drifted out into their path, costing them any chance to be in the mix down the stretch. Story continues Given the controversies about animal safety that have dogged the sport since a spate of fatal breakdowns in California last winter, Gaffalione might actually have saved horse racing from a truly awful day. His quick reaction aboard War of Will prevented a possible spill that may have taken out much of the 19-horse field. So some of the affected riders got on the trackside phone with the stewards to give their account of what happened. And then the wait began. While the stewards deliberated, poring over video of the race, the contingents of Maximum Security and Country House were left standing in the mud, surrounded by media members, peeking at replays on the video boards, wondering whose dream was achieved and who was about to go home angry. The minutes dragged on, 22 in all, and Jason Servis began to get a bad feeling. This was taking too long. “That can’t be good for me,” said the trainer of Maximum Security. About 25 feet away, Country House trainer Bill Mott knew what should happen but wasn’t sure it would happen. Basically, this was like a football officiating call on the deciding play of the Super Bowl: Do they have the guts to make it when the outcome will decide the biggest race on American soil? “They don’t take many horses down in the Kentucky Derby,” Mott said as he waited. “If it was a maiden $10,000 race on a Thursday, it’s a no-brainer. There were two horses taken out. … They have a duty to do the right thing. I hope they do.”In fact, they never take down the winner of the Kentucky Derby. There was a DQ in 1968, but not due to anything that happened in the race. Dancer’s Image was taken down three days after the race due to a drug violation. This was a first. Luis Saez rides Maximum Security across the finish line first followed by Flavien Prat on Country House during the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. Country House was declared the winner after Maximum Security was disqualified following a review by race stewards. (AP) The ruling that took away the win The news initially was relayed to everyone without a sound. The audio announcement came a few moments later. The video board displaying the results simply changed — Country House moved to the top, and Maximum Security’s name disappeared. The uncertain grandstand buzz transformed into gasps, groans and roars. And then boos. The Derby winner had been DQ’d. It was a unanimous decision by the three stewards — Butch Becraft, Tyler Picklesimer and chief steward Barbara Borden. It appeared to be the correct decision. It also was a hugely controversial decision. The stewards took no questions from reporters Saturday night, a lack-of-accountability page taken out of the officiating playbook of mainstream sports. In contrast, the trainer who had his guts ripped out answered all questions after the ruling. “It’s tough,” Servis said, appearing surprisingly serene before walking into a somber, shell-shocked Maximum Security owner’s box. “Right now I’m kind of OK,” Servis said. “I’m sure tomorrow I might not be.” Sunday may bring new plot twists. An appeal could be filed to the Kentucky Horse Racing Board, and a legal challenge certainly wouldn’t seem far-fetched in this situation. The result of this Kentucky Derby may still be in doubt for quite some time. The conflicting emotions were palpable for Country House’s connections. It was a feel-good story on several levels, but those were overshadowed by the way they won the race. Mott, a 65-year-old who once was the youngest trainer ever inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame, finally had his first Derby. He’d been 0-for-8 in the race before Saturday when he saddled two colts. Tacitus was considered by far his best shot, being sent off at 5-1 odds. Country House was almost a throw-in, and his 65-1 odds were the second-longest for the winner in Derby history. “It’s bittersweet,” Mott said. “I’d be lying if I said it was any different.<doc-sep>LOUISVILLE, Ky. — This has not been horse racing’s finest hour: dead horses at Santa Anita Park and consternation among horse people that they can treat their athletes better but have failed to do so. It’s little wonder then that the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday ended in astonishment, controversy and confusion. The Kentucky Derby, much like the Super Bowl, has become a place to see and be seen. Celebrities and wealthy people are everywhere, making the weekend a party with a race as the main distraction. On Saturday, Maximum Security won America’s most famous race on the track. Until he didn’t. For the first time in the history of the race, the horse who crossed the finish line first was disqualified for interference and stripped of his title, before a stunned crowd of more than 150,000. By all appearances, Maximum Security had outrun the field, remaining unbeaten and giving a hard-knocking trainer from the Mid-Atlantic, Jason Servis, and his up-and-coming jockey, Luis Saez, their first Derby victories. [A day later, people are still trying to figure out how horse racing moves on] But there was a problem — a big one. Maximum Security had jumped a puddle on the rain-soaked track and slid to the outside, not only impeding the progress of a rival, War of Will, but also forcing that colt’s rider, Tyler Gaffalione, to squeeze his knees and wrangle the reins just to stay aboard.<doc-sep>Maximum Security crossed the finish line first, but was disqualified after an obejction and subsequent review showed he committed obstruction. Kentucky Derby history was set on Saturday at Chuchill Downs when Maximum Security became the first ever horse to cross the finish line first and not win. Instead, it was Country House, a 65-1 underdog, that won the first American Triple Crown race. Maximum Security led for nearly the entire Run of the Roses and was the Derby's unofficial winner when it pulled ahead of the pack and finished first. However, Country House's jockey Flavien Prat and trainer William I. Mott filed an objection, claiming that Maximum Security stepped out of his lane, made contact with neighboring horse Will of War and obstructed the other horses in the process, which impeded their ability to catch the leader. Stewards reviewed the incident and ultimately ruled in favor of Country House. Maximum Security was disqualified. Several viewers took to Twitter to react to the controversy. The New Orleans Saints even compared the debate to the NFC Championship's controversial pass interference non-call. Here are some of the best reactions:<doc-sep>
In one of the wildest finishes in Kentucky Derby history, the decision on which horse had won the historic race was changed following a bit of drama. While Maximum Security was the first to cross the finish line, the action wasn’t over at that point, as there was a video review shortly after. Immediately after the race, the win was placed under review as it was stated that Maximum Security had veered out of his lane. In turn, the belief was that it left Country House, who was attempting to pass down the stretch, unable to do so. Here’s a look at the video of the end of the race, courtesy of Sports on Tap. Maximum Security wins the Kentucky Derby.. for now.. an objection has been called for and is under review ?? pic.twitter.com/NIx2jJ7LW6 — Sports ON Tap (@SONTHighlights) May 4, 2019 Maximum Security Disqualified From Kentucky Derby When the race wrapped up, Maximum Security appeared to have an impressive win, but when looking back at it, the decision was made to disqualify the horse from the Kentucky Derby. As seen below, courtesy of Jeremy Balan of Bet America, Maximum Security’s leg hit War of Will’s leg on two occasions, nearly leading to a dangerous scene. This is the slow-mo they just showed of Maximum Security’s leg literally hitting War of Will’s leg twice. Like I said, a miracle there wasn’t a complete disaster out there. pic.twitter.com/QKY1xPEMyF — Jeremy Balan (@jeremybalan) May 4, 2019 Follow the Heavy Los Angeles Lakers page for the latest breaking news, rumors and content! As Heavy.com’s Caroline Burke revealed, Maximum Security’s jockey, Luis Saez, told reporters that the horse was scared from crowd noise which led to the shift out of his lane. Following the finish of the race, Saez told reporters that his horse got a little bit scared from the noise of the crowd, which is why he veered out of his lane briefly. Maximum Security is still new to racing; his first race was a $16,000 claim in December. Maximum Security Won’t Run Preakness With the Preakness Stakes held on Saturday, May 18, the decision was made for Maximum Security to withdraw from the race. It appears the decision for that stems from the horse’s owner, Gary West voicing his obvious displeasure over the Kentucky Derby disqualification. “Really no need, not having an opportunity to run for the Triple Crown, to run a horse back in two weeks,” West noted to USA Today. With that said, West cited a potential appeal and the amount of time it would take for that to be decided in a story revealed by ESPN. This could very well have been a factor in the reason Maximum Security will not take part in the Preakness. “If there’s going to be an appeal it will almost certainly be before the Preakness, but appeals historically take some time to sort out. Win, lose or draw, we’re not going to know the outcome of that until probably months, if not years, down the road.” To make matters even messier, Billy Kobin and Andrew Wolfson of the Louisville Courier Journal revealed that Saez was handed a 15-day suspension and opted to appeal that decision. As the jockey stated, the decision was “unduly harsh” while the appeal cites that the suspension is not supported by “substantial evidence.” READ NEXT: Lakers Mock Draft 2019: Lottery Results & Predictions for Each Pick