2019 Kentucky Derby: Country House Awarded Win Upon Historic DQ

For the first time in Kentucky Derby history, a winner was demoted for an infraction committed during the running of the race. Stewards disqualified front-runner Maximum Security for causing interference and awarded 65-1 longshot Country House victory.
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2019 kentucky derby
For the first time in Kentucky Derby history, a winner was demoted for an infraction committed in the running of the race itself. Stewards disqualified front-running winner Maximum Security (right, pink silks) and placed him 17th for causing interference. As a result, 65-1 longshot Country House (second from right, yellow silks) was awarded victory in the $3 million classic May 4 at Churchill Downs. | Photo: Churchill Downs

Jubilant celebrations at the 2019 Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) turned to nerve-wracking drama and finally a stunned reaction from the crowd after the front-running winner, the 9-2 Maximum Security, was disqualified and placed 17th for causing interference (watch the race replay below). As a result, 65-1 longshot Country House was awarded victory in the $3 million classic May 4 at Churchill Downs.

As the stewards examined the multi-angle replays, both respective sets of connections were on tenterhooks about whether they had won their first Derby.

Maximum Security, the unbeaten Florida Derby (Grade 1) winner, briefly appeared to fulfill the dreams of owner/breeders Gary and Mary West, who were also represented by champion Game Winner in Derby 145; trainer Jason Servis, whose brother John trained 2004 Derby and Preakness (Grade 1) winner Smarty Jones; and jockey Luis Saez, who ironically had ridden Country House earlier on the trail

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