Thousands of people around the country watched the Number 7 horse, Maximum Security, cross the Kentucky Derby finish line first on Saturday (May 4) by 1 3/4 lengths. He had 9-2 odds of winning, and was a pre-race favorite to win the whole thing.
People who bet on Maximum Security to win, place, or show were ecstatic when the race came to a close! If some of them were like us, they probably left whatever Kentucky Derby viewing party they were at feeling like a winner.
BREAKING: Maximum Security has won the 145th @KentuckyDerby. pic.twitter.com/amZHjKfwpl
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 4, 2019
That feeling vanished pretty quickly.
Minutes after the race finished, two jockeys filed objections saying Maximum Security impeded their paths, as well as several other horses. Race stewards quickly took it under review and determined that their claims were valid, forcing them to disqualify Maximum Security. This was the very first time a winning horse was disqualified from the Kentucky Derby for interference.
The second place horse, long-shot Country House, got bumped to first place. At 65-1 odds, he is the second-biggest long-shot to ever win the Kentucky Derby.
Many news sites had to issue corrections on articles that had been published, including The Washington Post.
We've deleted this tweet sent with our Kentucky Derby breaking news alert. Country House is the winner after an objection led to Maximum Security's disqualification. https://t.co/bGe1PhZaqL pic.twitter.com/mp99jX9Pl2
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 4, 2019
According to Action Network, one lucky Country House better won $133,000 on their $2,500 wager.
Frustrated with the ruling, Maximum Security’s co-owner Gary West announced on Monday (May 6) that his horse will not run in the Preakness, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, in a couple weeks.
West also revealed he filed an appeal to the Kentucky Derby, but told the Associated Press that if his appeal is denied and Maximum Security is not named the winner, there is “really no need, not having an opportunity to run for the Triple Crown, to run a horse back in two weeks.”
BREAKING: Maximum Security's owner says he will appeal Kentucky Derby disqualification and the horse won't run in Preakness. https://t.co/Kq0MBNbCVe
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 6, 2019
The appeal West filed with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission was ultimately denied. He told Fox News he filed the appeal because “rules were not appropriately applied.”
Now, West is saying he will “file a lawsuit in the appropriate jurisdiction,” according to Fox News.
Watch NBC Sports break down the disqualification below.