Even President Trump tweeted to blame "political correctness", misspelling Kentucky as he wrote, "The Kentuky Derby decision was not a good one".
The initial victor Maximum Security was disqualified due to an objection, making history as only the second time this has happened at the Kentucky Derby. About 20 minutes after the race, the stewards announced Country House had been awarded the win, the first time in the race's 145-year history a victor had been disqualified.
However, the excitement over the Kentucky Derby results soon turned to nervousness as the jockey, trainer, and owners waited for a decision regarding a post-race objection. It was a rough and tumble race on a wet and sloppy track, actually, a lovely thing to watch.
The only other disqualification in the Derby occurred long after the race in 1968.
Maximum Security's disqualification at Saturday's Kentucky Derby was both a shocking and costly affair.
"I really lost my momentum around the turn", he said of Maximum Security's foul, which came when the colt veered from the rail just as several horses were gaining ground on the leader.
The stunning outcome gave Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott his first Derby victory at age 65.
Originally, it was announced that only jockey Flavien Prat aboard the relatively unaffected Country House had posted an objection against Saez and Maximum Security.
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Trump, for this part, has blasted Cohen on Twitter, calling him a "weak person" as well as a "bad lawyer and fraudster". That decision most likely contributed to the length of his sentence; his lawyer had argued for no prison time.
"I think this is the most egregious disqualification in the history of horse racing, and not just because it's our horse", West told the Associated Press by phone Saturday night.
Maximum Security was disqualified after a stewards' inquiry lasting 20 minutes.
Perhaps Trump had a few bucks on Maximum Security? The move, sweeping from the two-path out to at least the five-path, almost send War of Will's jockey Tyler Gaffalione into the ground and also caused issues with Long Range Toddy and Bodexpress.
After a persistent cough led the team to examine the thoroughbred, they discovered Omaha Beach was suffering from an entrapped epiglottis, which can cause difficulties in breathing and would have made competing in the derby hard, Mandella explained.
Churchill Downs said wagering on the Kentucky Derby increased 10% to a record $165.5 million, surpassing the old mark of $149.9 million set a year ago.
West indicated to the Union-Tribune that he would consider taking his case to the Kentucky state racing commission and federal court. Mott said so after the race.
At 65-1 odds, he's the second-biggest longshot ever to take home the Kentucky Derby.
Certainly the end to Saturday's race will do little to ignite enthusiasm for racing in America, where 23 horse deaths in a three-month span at Santa Anita racetrack in California have put the sport under scrutiny.
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