Kentucky Derby: Controversial ruling

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grotto

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“The best horse wins” is the unwritten rule of horse racing. Yesterday’s Derby was not living up to the level of horsemen. The heavy mud track added extra demands on horse and rider. Making the turn with close horses and a"possible" collision is part of the race. Maximum Security had the lead and kept it - he was way ahead of the “chosen” winner.
 
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The only reason it is controversial is because it is The Derby. If it were any other race no one would even be talking about it. Several times daily horses are disqualified for less. Even the trainers were saying so much while the judges were reviewing the tapes.

Those poor officials were in a place no one ever wants to be especially in races like the Triple Crown or Breeders Cup. They made the right call even if it’s heartbreaking and frustrating.

ETA: I bet in Maximum Security. My son picked Country House. It was a bad night at our house…
 
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“The jockeys of the other horses didn’t even seem to object to it after the race.”

This part of the article is false. Two jockeys called it in and Flavien Prat said his horse was bumped. Luis Saez admitted he bumped and regained control over Maximum Security at the turn. He blamed it on his being young and getting spooked by the crowd.
 
“All because it was ruled that Maximum Security interfered with a couple of horses, including Country House, on the final turn.”

This part of the article is also disingenuous. Impeding other horses is serious and against the rules:
“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. … If, in the opinion of the stewards, a foul alters the finish of a race, an offending horse may be disqualified by the stewards.”
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grotto said:
Making the turn with close horses and a"possible" collision is part of the race.
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A possible collision is part of the race. An actual collision or impediment is against the rules.
 
The rules of horeseracing and all other sports are easier to observe and enforce due to technology.

Thank goodness none of the horses or riders were hurt.
 
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God did not intend these beautiful creatures we know as horses to serve as amusement for people…despite what some might claim, they may run on instinct, but they don’t run an oval course for any other reason than to satisfy the vanity of man.
 
There is truth to that but the horses are indeed competitive and they do enjoy racing each other. God didn’t make humans to run in circles either but most love to watch the olympics
 
Now I know what the conversation will be at work for the next week (we live in a horse racing town)
 
Yes, the jockey admitted to the steward that the horse shied. That’s how they justified their decision.

I don’t agree with it and I’ve seen a lot worse in the Derby.

I think they just wanted Bill Mott to have a Derby winner.
 
That’s what I’ve been telling my son. Unfortunately he has the pay out and i got nothing.
 
I went from elation to disappoint/disgust . I bet on Maximum Security. Earlier in the week when he was 12 to 1 odds he was my pick. He went off as a favorite so plenty of other people had the same idea. This is the first I thought about the race since I turned the TV off right away when he was disqualified. At least I didn’t have to take a trip back to the track to collect. That and I being done with betting for a while are the only good things about the outcome from my standpoint.
 
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Couldn’t he run with a different rider? I don’t think the horse meant to cheat. 🤓
 
He can run. The owner pulled him out. I seriously doubt the jockey tried to cheat. Of course only he knows for sure. The owners appealed the Derby disqualification but as one commentator said the chances of a successful appeal are less than zero.
 
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