Political pollster and advisor, Pat Caddell said, “A lot of where you stand, depends on where you sit.” How very true.
Always remember, people who squawk the loudest are usually the least informed. This fact was on spectacular display over the last few days following the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby this past Saturday at Churchill Downs.
The recent rising chorus from sports pundits, horse racing writers, supposed racing analysts, all anti-horse racing naysayers, bettors, fans and even people who actually know nothing about the sport like politicians and animal rights terrorists, has been: “Horse Racing Needs More Integrity – More Transparency!” Ok, fine. You ask for it. You got it. The disqualification of Maximum Security in the Kentucky Derby is what INTEGRITY looks like. So be careful what you ask for because you may not like the result.
If any of this chattering class of people actually understood the rules governing horse racing during the running of a race, they’d be quiet. They don’t understand the rules so they squeal like wet seals. They also succeed wildly in embarrassing themselves.
The Churchill Downs stewards, led by Barbara Borden, made the correct call in disqualifying the winner, Maximum Security from the victory. You don’t have to like it but it was 100% correct – based on the RULES.
When you bother or impede other horses, cost them position or cause near disaster during the running, no matter if you’re the best horse in the race, you don’t get to keep the victory. Maximum Security veered over 3 or 4 horse widths into the path of other horses and caused a chain reaction of trouble and a near disastrous event of what could have been epic proportions and carnage. As a professional jockey, you must control your horse. You are the pilot. You and you alone are responsible for landing the plane. You get disqualified for this kind of failure.
The Kentucky Racing Commission rules read: “A leading horse if clear, is entitled to any part of the track. 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 horse or jockey, or to cause the same result, this action shall be deemed a foul.”
This is the rule that governs the running of a horse race. It is not a particular horse race, it is all horse races, including the Kentucky Derby. Ignore this rule and chaos would ensue very quickly. The rules of all sports are meant to keep everyone doing the right thing, no matter the intensity of the day. RULES maintain the integrity of sports.
I have also known Kentucky State Steward, Barbara Borden, since the 1980’s. She worked her way up from the bottom and earned her position of the state’s premier racing official. She knows what she’s doing. Barbara is the most fair racing official or person you’ll ever meet. Her interpretation of the rules and integrity is unmatched. She and her fellow stewards presiding over the Derby got it exactly right. It’s not even debatable if you understand the RULES.
To have not taken down the winner, Maximum Security, who yes indeed, likely was the best horse, would have been an egregious violation and betrayal of trust to all horsemen, every $2 bettor, serious handicapper and racing fan in the world. Talk about another nail in the coffin of the sport..
Think about the following for just a moment, then get back to me:
If jockey, Luis Saez’s failure to control his mount and maintain a straight course which he has an absolute obligation to do, would have resulted in Tyler Gaffalione aboard War Of Will and potentially a chain reaction of other horses and jockeys going down like dominos behind him, think about the resulting disaster and following rage. How would you view the incident if just another fraction of an inch produced this very likely pile-up of a dozen horses and very possible fatal consequences to a horse, rider or even multiple horses or riders. If you’re honest, you have to admit, it would change things for you and you know it.
This wild outrage is like complaining about the Electoral College because you don’t like the results of the election. If you don’t like the rules, change them. Just don’t complain about the racing officials following the rules of a rule based event where life and death are at stake. This officiating by the Churchill Downs stewards maintaining order in a race, is different than a call third strike or pass interference.
Trust me when I say, no one ever wants to lose any race by DQ – especially – the Kentucky Derby and no one really wants to win it this way either. I’ve been there, it’s no fun. Here’s a little inside baseball:
The jockey who was the most adversely effected, Tyler Gaffalione, did not claim foul because he had nothing to gain. It’s etiquette – protocol of the jock’s room. He’d have been ostracized as a total chicken shit. Claim foul, the winner gets DQ’d in the Kentucky Derby, he and his connections gained nothing!? No chance. He knew better. He had no standing or reason to do it.
The jock that finished second however, Flavien Prat, was extremely smart and knew the RULES. Flavien took advantage of the RULES for his connections. He did his job as a jockey to win anyway possible as long as you follow the RULES. It totally paid off. To be exact, the winners share of the purse was $1.86M, of which 10% or $186,000 each, going to trainer, Bill Mott and to Prat. Everyone should want Flavien Prat to rider their horses.
I’ll say it again, the horse that crossed the finish line in front was the best horse but Luis Saez did not control his mount. “Intent” here is a non-issue and has no mention in the rules. Saez had zero intent to cause this issue for himself or others. His inside fastball got away from him and he hit the batter with the bases loaded causing the winning run to walk in and the other team win the World Series. Of course he didn’t mean to do it. When you hear people quote “there was no intent” that means they don’t understand the RULES.
In the end this was not a popular call on the surface. I understand, but it was actually a pretty easy and without question, the correct call – if you understand the RULES.
The Churchill Downs Stewards, led by Barbara Borden should be commended for having the courage to do the right thing and NOT bend to political correctness in spite of the white hot intensity of the day. I’ll even take it a step farther, Barbara Borden did the horse racing industry the biggest favor it’s received in the last 30 years. She gave the game the mainline injection of integrity everyone has been clamoring for, they just didn’t like the form it took. Bravo to Barbara Borden and her fellow stewards, Butch Becraft and Tyler Picklesimer.
But hold on a second, now that I think about it, there is one person who I am certain is very happy with the way the race turned out. This person is Mike Smith. If you don’t get what I’m saying, you probably shouldn’t have or didn’t read this post.
** UPDATE 5/24/19 >> After the overwhelming response to this blog post and having been bombarded with questions, I am in the process of setting up a YouTube channel where you can ask me ANYTHING you’d like to know about horse racing. Every week I’ll answer as many questions as possible on my channel. As soon as I get 200 subscribers, it’ll go live.
Email me questions, comments or concerns at the following email address: clint@dontgetmestarted.wtf (and yes, this is the correct email address..)
So please – subscribe now – so we can get started! Click here to subscribe: DontGetMeStarted
Comments 64
Clint, I think I love you. I don’t know why I haven’t seen this article before. I am new to horseracing as of the past 10 months. Admittedly I don’t have a clue about the rules, the stakes, heck… I’ve only been to the race track once in my life and that was 40 years ago. I started following racing after a visit to Claiborne Farms, met some horses, decided to check out the sons of War Front and immediately became obsessed with the sport. I now follow several horse racing organizations, trainers, horses and their connections, the Facebook and Twitter accounts of Blood Horse, The Jockey Club, TVG, Thoroughbred aftercare organizations, etc. I could go on but you get the point. I am trying to educate myself. I am trying to learn. I read and watch everything I can. I don’t always get what I’m reading but I continue to try. But even as a new naive fan of horse racing, even I knew that the Kentucky Derby officials made the right call. After trying to defend War of Will and the decision made to disqualify MS, (a not so fruitful newbie experience), and being called stupid, blind, wrong and a few other choice words I won’t type here, I came to the conclusion that the angry mob mentality on social media after the KD reminded me of the outrage following the Trump election. I was taken aback and wondered, maybe I should find a new sport to follow if people are going to be this nasty. But I quickly found my tribe and I stand by my original consensus and I applaud your direct, common sense, no BS article. In our current culture of outrage, protests, outbursts, foot stomping when we don’t get our way (similar to a surly adolescent or terrible twos toddler) by grown ass adults who are overcome by emotion instead of good common sense, you have to just shake your head and move on. Those people are NOT my tribe. People today just want to be entertained, they just want to be right even when they’re wrong, they just want to shout and not listen to an alternative view, they don’t want to take the time to listen to reason or learn the rules, or abide by them even when they know them. And don’t even get me started on the anti horse racing extreme animal activists. That’s a whole other animal so to speak. Keep fighting the good fight, stand by your convictions, continue speaking the truth. It won’t be popular but true grown ups don’t care about the ‘popularity, they care about truth. Thank you for trying to educate the masses.
Author
Hi Cheryl…
You probably thought I was never going to respond to you. I AM SO SORRY for haven taken this long to reply. Somehow, I did not get notified of your comment.. THANK YOU SO MUCH for reading and taking the time to comment. I REALLY appreciate your words. I spent many decades, “hands on” in the sport as a jockey, trainer, owner, trainer, breeder going back to the middle 70’s, I know what I’m talking about, I know the sport and I can tell you, I absolutely know the rules. Your comment about the social media outrage culture is right on the money. Most of these aggrieved people have no real idea about what they are even talking about but they scream the loudest. I am also a Trump supporter so I do not back down.
While as a participant, many times I ended up on the losing end of the stewards decisions. I am also not a big fan of most racing officials, 85% of their decisions are quite often shaky, but Barbara Borden and her fellow stewards got this one right. They followed the rules. They did the right thing in the face of enormous pressure. Bravo to them on every level.
Keep following the game, Cheryl, the sport is bleeding fans and fractured into a millions tiny pieces, we desperately need you. Let me know if you have any questions. I’m more than happy to answer or help you any way I can. Thank you for being interested din the great sport of horse racing.
My best to you – Clint
Thank you for writing this. I watched the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and saw what happens if a horse gets cut off and clips the heels of another. I was posting the link to that incident wherever I responded to cries of “unfair” as an example of a horse veering into another’s path. It was fortunate that both the horse and jockey involved got up and walked away. And even though the filly that caused the accident in the Oaks finished sixth, she was DQd. After watching that happen straight out of the gate, I can’t even imagine the horror if a horse went down at the front of the pack, running full out with so many clustered closely together. It would have been a disaster of epic proportions, and fodder for Animal Rights activists in their attacks on all things involving animals, but especially horse racing. That video would have been posted far and wide in their campaign to end it. So while it sucks, it was the right thing to do. They followed the rules and applied them equally, both to the horse placing sixth that had no real effect on the remaining results other than the horse that fell, and the one that crossed the finish line first but probably did alter the results of the order of crossing the finish line of those that came after him.
Author
Mccky,
Let me start by saying YOU.ARE.WELCOME.
You are seeing it exactly right by comparing what happened the day before the Kentucky Derby in the Kentucky Oaks. It’s a dangerous game out there. All jockeys, at all times, under all conditions and circumstances, absolutely must be held responsible for controlling their mounts. Failure to do so comes with a price. Luis Saez failed and paid, rightfully so.. Like you, I’m just glad disaster was averted no matter how narrowly.
Thanks for ready my blog and special thank you for taking the time to comment.
Author
Hi Stella!
Hey, listen up.. I’m going to speak slowly…. I have no idea whatsoever why Barbara Livingston cannot post a comment on my blog?? I do not block anyone. She is in fact free to comment as she did previously. If I were concerned about her posting, I would have already deleted the comment she made. As you can see, I have not and I won’t.
However, since I have absolutely no idea WHO you are – or – what business this is of yours and given the fact I have ZERO obligation to even pay any attention to anything you say – I certainly might consider blocking YOU.
No one from the DRF has the courage to contact me to date about any concerns. So I have no idea if your or Barbara’s complaint is even real. Why doesn’t big “JIM” pull up his pants and contact me? Instead, DRF (I guess – or someone??) keeps marching out minions without any standing to do their bullying dirty work. Why is this?
The photo I am using is a screen grab from a TV video. It is a frame by frame screen-grab. It is in the public domain and falls under “fair use” and/or “editorial content”. If I were trying to claim the image as my own or trying to sell the image for monetary profit, someone could have a complaint. I am not. There is no watermark or copyright mark on this image. It will remain.
Do you realize how petty and childish you look, groveling over a demand for $25.00 you cannot even substantiate? Please, grow up and thank YOU for understanding.
Instead of Mr. West taking his horse and going home, declaring that he won’t race Maximum Security in the Preakness, as there was no point in doing so, how about proving how good his horse is by racing him in the other two Triple Crown races? That is what a horseman who believes in his horse would do. He might look into finding another jockey, though.
And yes, job well done, stewards! Thank you!
And great post! Thank you!
Author
Yvonne,
Thank you so much for reading my blog post.
Mr. West certainly does have the absolute right to decide whether or not they want to run Maximum Security back in the Preakness or not but – it would certainly be nice if he did. As long as the horse, is up to it.
Good heavens! Are we STILL talking about this? The interference was apparent and, more important, created a significant life threatening hazard for both horses and riders. I do not believe it was an attempt to cheat, but such a dangerous mistake CANNOT be ignored. The riders in this race are not amateurs or even inexperienced. The MS owners came VERY close to losing their horse and ALL the revenue he might have generated along with all the other owners whose horses and riders might have been involved in the pile up, if they are only thinking of the 2 million. Get over it. Move on. It was the only possible call.
Author
Hi Lin… I think people will be talking about this for a long time. But yes, it was the right call and the only call to make based on the RULES.
THANK YOU for reading my post.
Just to put one favorite theme to rest. The “best horse” doesn’t always win in the world of racing! In fact, there are so many variables on any given day that put this theory to rest. I saw the infraction as it happened and totally agree with your insightful analysis. Very frustrating to see all the ranting posts after the race by uninformed “experts”. So refreshing to see posts such as this one to set things straight!
Author
Hey Alexis,
I could not agree with you more about the best horse DOES NOT always win the race. No truer words spoken. So many people do not understand or realize this FACT!
Really appreciate you reading my post and then taking the time to leave a great comment. Thank you!
Please remove the copyrighted photograph that appears on this post, or feel free to contact photographer Jim Leuenberger or Daily Racing Form editor Jody Swavy about its use. I can send contact information for either.
It is against Federal law to use others’ photographs without permission or compensation, of course; just as it would be for me to steal your above article and post it on my own page.
Thanks for your understanding.
Author
Hi Barbara..
(I’ll respond here exactly the way I did to your email of such concern… And by the way, you also must surely remember, I’ve used your photographs in the past and have always sought your permission in advance. My courtesy would not change.)
I totally appreciate your note. However the photo on my blog is NOT Jim Leuenberger’s photograph. This is a screen-grab of the race video. You will also notice the screenshot/grab photo I’m using is not nearly as crisp as Jim’s photo.
In addition, I have seen Jim’s pic, it clearly has his watermark and copyright © splashed across the front. I have no method by which to remove it nor would I even consider doing so, for obvious reasons.
If I were using his photo, I would be delighted to pay him.
Thank YOU for understanding.
Clint
* Barbara Livingston is unable to post on your blog, but she sent an email with billing. Whether you received the shot by downloading the unmarked image on DRF.com or screenshooting it, it is Jim Leuenberger’s photo, shot for Jim and Daily Racing Form.
Thank you for Understanding
Author
Hi Stella!
Hey, listen up.. I’m going to speak slowly…. I have no idea whatsoever why Barbara Livingston cannot post a comment on my blog?? I do not block anyone. She is in fact free to comment as she did above. If I were concerned about her posting, I would have already deleted the comment she made above. As you can see, I have not and I won’t.
However, since I have absolutely no idea WHO you are – or – what business this is of yours and given the fact I have ZERO obligation to even pay any attention to anything you say – I certainly might consider blocking YOU.
No one from the DRF has the courage to contact me to date about any concerns. So I have no idea if your or Barbara’s complaint is even real. Why doesn’t big “JIM” pull up his pants and contact me? Instead, DRF (I guess – or someone??) keeps marching out minions without any standing to do their bullying dirty work. Why is this?
The photo I am using is a screen grab from a TV video. It is a frame by frame screen-grab. It is in the public domain and falls under “fair use” and/or “editorial content”. If I were trying to claim the image as my own or trying to sell the image for monetary profit, someone could have a complaint. I am not. There is no watermark or copyright mark on this image. It will remain.
Do you realize how petty and childish you look, groveling over a demand for $25.00 you cannot even substantiate? Please, grow up. Thank YOU for understanding.
Clint,
Barbara and Stella J have retained myself as an attorney to collect the $25 (split two ways) to each of them. I cannot discuss legal fees on a public forum, but after the Subway coupons they used for collateral, I can guarantee they will see their fair share in this $25 dispute. I know I drive a hard bargain, but my clients are a ‘cold cut’ away from seeking damages in the form of a Jimmy John’s gift card. Don’t take this personally, but Jimmy John’s subs are “so fast, you’ll freak” and smells are free… we have agreed to accept digital coupon screenshots; so long as they are watermarked by you (please don’t cover bar code or QR code with watermarks).
Sincerely,
Jimmy Law(yer)
SATIRE LAW GROUP
Off topic, but I would love to know how this ended or even started for that matter. So the picture is a screenshot that you took from a replay video and the women are saying you are using someone else’s picture? And they billed you? These posts were almost as entertaining as the race. Absolutely LOVE the “lawyer” post!!!
Thank you for understanding
We could have had an exciting neck and neck race to the finish line. But we will never know. Now we have a near miss to a disaster and an opportunity to educate.
Author
YES!
Thank you for such an insightful article. I have owned and ridden horses since I was 5. I have watched the Derby for as long as I can remember. I attended my first Derby in 1969 when Majestic Prince won when I was 12 (you do the math). I attended 2 other Derby, but stopped when the in-field became so crowded. Then all the infrastructure was installed limiting any real view of the track on the Grandstand side, so felt I had a better vantage point watching it on TV and didn’t have to deal with the weather. I now place my bets from Millionaire’s Row (anytime but Derby Week).
The comments have been interesting with a mixture of knowledgeable and clueless posts. I grew up with horse racing, worked as a groom at Keeneland and as a groom at many farms in the Lexington area, so while not in the trenches, I have some insight. I had no money on the race and had not been following the contenders. But I challenge that Maximum Security was the fastest horse. Yes he lead the way around the track, but the horses to his right where just beginning to “make their move” and were coming up FAST before he made cut them off.
The Jockey stated to the pickup rider that he got spooked and was just a baby. However there have been many photos posted showing the jockey riding with arms wide and loose reins. All of the horses were the same age (within 6 months) and there is no way the jockey could maintain the control needed riding the way he was when the incident occurred.
The Stewards made the right call without question. Anyone that doesn’t see it is not looking or doesn’t understand the rules. Thanks for the great article
Author
Hello Carra!
Great additional analysis, everything you said is very insightful. Rick Brasher also points out that MS may not have been the best or fastest horse and you guys definitely could be right as the horses to the inside were absolutely making their move. It is hard to calculate the loss of momentum. Luis could have ridden a much tighter race. It cost him big time.
I really appreciate you taking the time to read my post AND for commenting:)
Thank you for sharing this all-revealing shot. I totally agreed with the decision, the rider erred but I must say the rider had a legitimate excuse and the blame must be shifted to the greed element at Churchill Downs…not too many horse in the gates but too damn many people in the infield which spooked the horse. Just wondering in the interest of a seamless relationship with the devotees of the derby, why didn’t Steward Barbara Borden release this shot at the moment the decision was released, or did she, and I missed it? I really feel bad for the West and the rider, and if there is a cause of action for them it is against Churchill Downs for creating a hazard. I was fortunate because I made my bets around my knowledge of Billie Mott…but my major prayer was in thanksgiving that no one was injured. Thanks again for sharing…and, now, clearly all those who bad mouthed me who called it before the inquiry was posted…may sit down. Please check my new site (deleted) which advocates for horses, jockeys and the public for federal oversight and standardization of racing rules between the states.
Author
Welby – You and I don’t see eye to eye on much, if anything. You’ve posted on Facebook the most stupid and outrageous claims that are either the product of wild hallucinations or Dick Francis novels. You clearly have ulterior motives and an agenda, which I don’t appreciate or share.
You are also extremely unknowledgeable for someone who claims experience in the game. I question your actual experience and integrity. To say numerous places “Billie” Mott trained for you – and talk about your knowledge of him as a basis for your “bet” – I would at least think you would no how to spell his name – it’s BILL or BILLY – not Billie. If you knew him or had a relationship with him, you’d know better.
I do agree with you on ONE thing, the Kentucky Derby should be one gate – 14 horses but that is a different discussion. I am not a big fan of Churchill Downs as a corporate entity but the owners have no cause for action against them. If you don’t like the Derby circumstances, don’t play. No one will miss you, especially me.
Additionally, no one is going to check your new site either because no one cares what you say or think. But thanks for reading my blog post. Now – you – may sit down.
Such a perfect article! I am one of the casualties of clipping heels in a race, piling up, and being stuck in a wheelchair with a spinal cord injury. I’m so delighted that the stewards had the ‘Guts’ to do the right thing. Who cares if you have the best horse in the race or not, you still don’t get to endanger every other horse and rider!
Author
Holly – my dear! The underlying point of my post is YOU – and other riders like you as well as other horses – in hopes no one has to meet this same circumstance. I’ve been out there too, I know the risks and dangers all too well. The stewards showed true guts and courage in doing the right thing and not the popular thing, which was my other, hopefully clear point. Maximum Security “may” have been the best horse – but he was not the “only” horse out there.. You don’t get to endanger others and keep the win. Thank you for your perspective. I love you Holly <3
Thank you for this article. Some folks have the attitude that because it’s the KENTUCKY DERBY, the winner should never be DQ’d … They have no concept of the kind of free for all that the race would become …
Even if the believe War of Will ran up on Maximum Security, on the turn coming into the stretch he went out three paths, and definitely affected Long Range Toddy … it is that simple. Sucks that it happened in the derby, but rules are rules, and they are in place for the safety of both horses and humans.
Author
Sue – You see it as clear as day and are absolutely right. It sucks that it happened, but it did. Rules are in place to prevent chaos and maintain order. This decision will not be forgotten by jockeys everywhere anytime soon (and it shouldn’t) and will save horses and jockeys in the future.
thank you….this really helped me better understand what happened. Hat’s off the stewards for doing the right thing, knowing that they were likely going to be widely criticized for it. The stewards were going to take the heat one way or the other. Better that the take the heat for making the right call.
Author
Terri – You have it exactly right. The stewards job is to get it right, not to make people happy. This decision will remain (as it should) in every jockey’s mind for a long time to come. The decision saved future horses and jockey’s health and well being, if not lives.
Thank you for this- the picture is worth a thousand words… When I watched the video- I was a little stumped by the DQ. I am not a horse racing professional- merely a fan of horses and racing is my way of seeing them at their most powerful, most beautiful and most vulnerable positions. The picture you attached though- really shows the sway in the lane better than anything else I have seen… Mostly because it happens so fast. Maximum Security is spread over 3 lanes at least int hat photo…Thanks for bringing clarity and informing the uninformed!
Author
Heather,
Thank you – for reading my post:)
Thank you for such an interesting and enlightening article. When I saw a replay of the race my first reaction was that it was essentially a “racing incident”. A friend who has a lot of experience in racing in the US then sent me both a photo and a close up video replay. At this point I had to hold up my hands and admit that my first reaction had been wrong. It was the luck of the Gods that this did not turn into the most serious accident ever seen in racing. The head on video replay clearly shows what happened and under the rules in any racing country would have led to disqualification and quite rightly so. I suspect that most of the whiners and whingers only saw the very unclear race footage and like me based their opinion on that. It’s the strict application of the rules that ensures that it’s unlikely that we will see a repeat of this situation any time soon. Thank you Clint for such a well thought and well written article.
Author
Hi Dian..
Thanks so much for reading my blog post and taking the time to comment. I really do appreciate it. You are a clear and open minded thinker, that’s why you were able to rethink your original point of view. Others would benefit by following your example. You ultimately saw the situation as it truly was. A catastrophic event nearly occurred. This is why all sports have officials who enforce the rules. Maximum Security was correctly DQ’d.
If a leading horse is clear he can move the track? He was clear. He infact had no one beside him or close behind when he moved. After he did indeed move another horse came up beside country house thus boxing him in forcing him up the hindend of maximum security. Not maximum securities fault.
Maximum Security was in first place and simply changed lane to one. He did not touch Country House’s horse at all. It’s a terrible call and should be made by two stewards, not one. I totally disagree and am a horse owner.
Author
Kelly – the decision to DQ Maximum Security was in fact unanimous by all THREE stewards. He impeded numerous other horses. You can’t do that.
If a leading horse is clear he can move the track? He was clear. He infact had no one beside him or close behind when he moved. After he did indeed move another horse came up beside country house thus boxing him in gorcing him up the hindend of maximum security. Not maximum securities fault.
Author
No Brian, he was NOT clear. You are just seeing it wrong. If you were correct, the stewards would have let the finish stand. They had no axe to grind. It would have been way easier on them and much more PC to let it stand. Back to my point of my blog post about integrity.
Who is Mike Smith? Sorry I’m in Australia and I don’t watch the KD though I’ve heard about this one. Agree with what you say about rules. Just wanting to know who Mike Smith is.
A FIRST CLASS jockey. He was supposed to ride Omaha Beach. He is one of the BEST!
Mike Smith is one of the finest jockeys we have seen in many years. Last year he won the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont races) on Justify. He is a upstanding and called “Money Mike” as he wins so many races. A very fine jockey and a class act! Hope this helps explain who Mike Smith is.
Author
Susan – what everyone is saying is correct except for the controversy part. ALL the outrage pre-Derby was that the owner of the horse Mike ultimately rode – REPLACED the originally named on jockey at the last minute in favor or Mike becoming available due to the scratch of Omaha Beach. This is way out of line at this point in the process. There was ton of anger towards the owner for doing it and towards Mike for accepting the replacement assignment. For the replaced jockey, Corey Lanerie, it would have been his FIRST Derby mount. For Mike it was a 40-1 shot that had no chance. In my opinion, It was a poor decision by the owner and by Mike. Thus my comment because the heat came off Mike with this new controversy.
I agree completely with your contention that it was way out of line! It was certainly not Mike Smith’s best day, no matter how many Triple Crown races he has won, and it surprised me that Todd Pletcher was also involved. I would expect better of both of them.
Author
Yes indeed, Janet, yes indeed. As a multiple winner of the Derby, Mike should have been considerate enough to let someone enjoy what might be a once in a lifetime privilege of riding in the Derby. (Although the owner might still have insisted on picking someone else – WHY – Corey L. is one of Churchill’s leading riders, ever!)
Thanks for commenting:)
I don’t know how many of you have actually been “in the trenches” of the racing industry…I suspect not many. I could say a lot about how 22 horses (there would have been 22 if 2 had not scratched) should NEVER be on the same track together in any conditions, especially on a sloppy track….It’s GUARANTEED something WILL go wrong, and it did.
Stewards, or officials, in any sport, need to agree on CURRENT conditions and give latitude. The NFL does it on ice covered, wet, snow covered fields.
Under the conditions, the stewards blew the big one.
Bob Baffert said it best….”the reason there has never been a Derby horse taken down is because nobody had the guts or lack of integrity to whine. There are few, if any, races where an infraction doesn’t occur, but you don’t take a horse down in the Derby. You need to take your ass kicking with dignity”.
The owners of Country House will regret this…the racing world is ruthless. Nobody will breed to a 2nd place horse. We’ll see what kind of horse he is in the Preakness and Belmont. My bet is he’s still a 65-1 kind of horse. He ran a hell of a race for no more talent than he has, but he’s still the loser.
And there would never be 22 starters in that race. It’s limited to 20 starters. Bodexpress was the only also-eligible and he got a spot when Omaha Beach scratched.
Barry, you have no credibility by saying there would have been 22 horses in the race if 2 horses hadn’t scratched. Where have you been hiding all these years? And Bafferts’ statement is laughable. “You never take down a Derby winner” Really Bob?
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I agree with you whole heartedly, Tim!
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HorseLuv73 – You are 100% right! The Derby is limited to 20 horses. It SHOULD be limited to 14 horses. ONE GATE.
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Barry,
** I have been in the trenches. So has Rick Brasher.
** The Derby is limited to 20 horses. It should be 14, ONE GATE. You clearly don’t know how it works with scratches and horses drawing in…so I can see you have NOT been in the trenches.
** It is not guaranteed something will go wrong just because it’s muddy. The mud had zero effect on this incident in the Derby on Saturday. Jockeys ride in the mud all the time. They know what to do regardless.
** The NFL can do as they see fit.
** The Stewards followed the RULES – that’s the entire point of my blog post. Maybe re-read??
** Bob Baffert is entitled to his opinion, just like you are but he doesn’t get to make up the rules, he participates under the rules. But you just made my case by virtue of his words, by saying no one has the guts! Please let me introduce you: For guts, “Barry Tipton, meet, Flavien Prat. And then for guts AND integrity: “Barry, meet Barbara Borden.”
** You don’t take an ass-kicking if you don’t have to. You fight like hell with the RULES. Flavien Prat knew the rules and did his job. You should want him to ride your horses too.
** The owners of Country Home will be fine. If Country Home has the right pedigree, success and stands at the right farm, tons of people will breed to him. You apparently don’t understand how things work in the Bluegrass.
** Officially, Country House is in fact the winner of the 2019 Kentucky Derby. Does this sentence heard over the loudspeaker sound familiar? >>
“The Race Is Now Official”
….but thank you, Barry for reading my post. I do appreciate it.
Are you saying no one sent their mare to Ayldar, who finished 2nd to Affirmed in all 3 Triple Crown races? The stewards made the right call.
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Pam – BINGO:)
Clint nice opinion article !
I agree whole heartedly with everything you said except I am not convinced without the incident the best horse crossed the finish line first. I don’t think anyone can make that statement ! For example watch McKenzies race the day before.
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Rick…
Thanks so much for reading and then commenting.
I totally value your point of view and opinion on whether the best horse did cross the finish line first. Not too many people have thought to point that out. It is very hard to calculate the unknowable without the incident. Great point!
Totally agree.
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Terri – Thank you for taking the time to read and comment!
I don’t think it has dawned on many how close we came to what might have been a catastrophic accident (as someone noted to me in a reply to a post elsewhere on this, think “The Big One” at Daytona or Talladega Speedways). The lead Steward at Churchill Downs did her job knowing the level of scrutiny she was under and it was CLEARLY THE CORRECT CALL.
I know there are those who will say (and have said) outside the US (actually North America) he NEVER would have been disqualified, however, the rules here CLEARLY made it obvious Maximum Security HAD to be disqualified from first in the Kentucky Derby for interfering with War of Will, who cause a chain reaction behind him because of that which led to Maximum Security being placed 17th. It was the call that had to be made as we could have had a massive spill that would have likely been the death knell for this sport in the US because of PETA.
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Walt – As I’ve already mentioned to you in several places where you shared this post (thanks again!) you’ve got it exactly right. The rules are written to maintain order, otherwise the sport – any sport – descends in to chaos. Life and death game out there. Gotta keep it tight and gotta be absolutely fair. This will decision stay in the subconscious of riders and stewards all over the country.
One more thing…no matter what anybody says, since we are in the US, we go by US rules. the RULES are the RULES.
As a life long horse racing fan, the gasp I let out when Maximum Security slid sideways in front of other horses, was due to the mental picture I got of what I thought was about to happen. Fear for the horses & riders was rapidly replaced by a feeling of having dodged a bullet. This was just from watching on TV! You are 100% correct it was so close to being “The Big One”! All of horse ricing is lucky it was not and that the stewards did their job.
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Exactly right Renae!
Watch “Kentucky Derby DQ from chain reaction by Daryl G. Ezra” on Vimeo:
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Wayne –
As I said in the first part of my post: “Always remember, the people who squawk the loudest are usually the least informed.” This guy proves my point. What a clueless IDIOT.
For all of his self-anointed credentials this guy supposedly has – I never heard of him. Be glad he is not a steward. Daryl Ezra is way out of his depth here and is proving he has zero grasp of the RULES – ZERO.
Maximum Security may have been the best horse – his jockey failed to control him properly and broke the rules.
YOU LOSE.
This guy is clearly choosing not to see the infraction – plus he is not looking at it from all angles as the well informed CD stewards did repeatedly. All his dramatic howling changes nothing and just proves he is not the “expert” he claims to be. Would he have howled with such indignation if War of Will had gone down (as happened to the filly in the Oaks the day before) when Maximum Security ran into him? Would he have cared about the pile-up that could have resulted? Apparently not. The first bump he pointed out was not an issue… but he used that as a false flag to gloss over MS’s infraction.
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Hey Lori,
You can also see through this thinly layered veil of fake outrage by this wannabe, Daryl Erza. He is doing nothing more than acting out and virtue signaling , he wants everyone to believe he knows what he’s talking about, he doesn’t. Glad you see like it IS.
Thanks for commenting.