Gary West, who along with his wife Mary, owns Maximum Security, the horse that was disqualified after crossing the finish line first in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, told the Today Show on Monday morning that he plans to appeal.
The appeal has to be filed within 48 hours of the race.
Opinion within the racing community is split as to whether or not the stewards made the correct decision, which led to an historic first – never before in the 145-year history of the Kentucky Derby had the winner been disqualified after an on-track incident.
Maximum Security was first to finish Saturday’s muddy Derby before becoming the marquee race’s first winner to be disqualified for interference. Stewards elevated runner-up Country House, a 65-1 long shot, to the winner’s circle after determining that Maximum Security impeded his path and two others’ exiting the final turn. Maximum Security was ultimately placed 17th of 19 horses after starting as the 9-2 second betting choice, ending his four-race winning streak.
West also said that Maximum Security will not run in the Preakness on May 18, which would mean a potential rematch with longshot Derby champion Country House would need to wait until the June 8 Belmont Stakes at the earliest.
