Let's not kid ourselves, if the trainer of Maximum Security was Baffert, Pletecher or Mott, this horse would have never been disqualified.
Here is the actual Kentucky Racing Board rule.
Section 12. Fouls. (1) A leading horse if clear is entitled to any part of the track.
(2) If a leading horse or any other horse in a race swerves or is ridden to either side so as to interfere with, intimidate, or impede any other horse or jockey, or to cause the same result, this action shall be deemed a foul.
(3) If a jockey strikes another horse or jockey, it is a foul.
(4) If, in the opinion of the stewards, a foul alters the finish of a race, an offending horse may be disqualified by the stewards.
Section 12. Fouls. (1) A leading horse if clear is entitled to any part of the track.
(2) If a leading horse or any other horse in a race swerves or is ridden to either side so as to interfere with, intimidate, or impede any other horse or jockey, or to cause the same result, this action shall be deemed a foul.
(3) If a jockey strikes another horse or jockey, it is a foul.
(4) If, in the opinion of the stewards, a foul alters the finish of a race, an offending horse may be disqualified by the stewards.
We know what the rules are, they're just not enforced ever in the Kentucky derby.....as you can see in their 145 year history.
It appears that rules 1 and 2 contradict each other. If the lead horse is entitled to any part of the track how can it then be considered to impede any other horse by doing so???
The rules do contradict each other, which means it all comes down to the stewards' subjectivity
And they ran afterwards, refused to take questions, they were gutless
If you're going to make such a controversial decision, you have to be 10,000% prepared to step into a room and defend it. You have to know beyond a shadow of a doubt you made the correct decision and you CAN'T WAIT to defend it. They chose to shield themselves behind a prepared statement and then run away and hide.
Cowards, doesn't speak well for their judgement or for the sport. Actually speaks volumes about their judgement, or lack thereof
1) After reading the rules you posted, I concluded they're inconsistent which leads to subjectivity
2) The article I read said the stewards released a statement and went home, refusing to meet the press. If that article is accurate, my criticism for their obvious lack of judgement stands, you have to be prepared to defend such a decision. It's your job
I was thinking that some Derby stoopers got very lucky. First timers at Derby have no clue about objections. The objection isn't posted immediately. Some people toss tickets immediately and are on their way out the door to beat the traffic. What a find if you snag an exacta ticket off the ground.
Once they took Max Sec. down from the win, i wasn't affected and I KNOW it was the right decision ( still hurt like HELL) after watching races for more than 40 years.... But how they figured he should be placed -17th was it; kinda seems a little far down...I can see out of the money, but 17th? The Preakness will be interesting.
