The derby disqualification

Bungalow Bill

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Cost bettors 9 million dollars
That's a one sided view. The people who collected the $132 win, $3,000 exacta, $11,400 tri, $51,000 super and $544,000 high five not to mention a .20 cent pick 6 for $271,000 probably see it differently. It was definitely the right call and took a lot of guts by the stewards. The recent deaths at Santa Anita also added to the importance of the dq because it was almost catastrophic. If either of the horses that clipped heels had gone down it would have been a chain reaction that could have caused death both equine and human. There was no human error either. The 7 horse just bolted when he heard the crowd coming around the final turn. Some great riding by all of the involved jockies, including Saez on the 7.
 

KentuckySir2

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That's a one sided view. The people who collected the $132 win, $3,000 exacta, $11,400 tri, $51,000 super and $544,000 high five not to mention a .20 cent pick 6 for $271,000 probably see it differently. It was definitely the right call and took a lot of guts by the stewards. The recent deaths at Santa Anita also added to the importance of the dq because it was almost catastrophic. If either of the horses that clipped heels had gone down it would have been a chain reaction that could have caused death both equine and human. There was no human error either. The 7 horse just bolted when he heard the crowd coming around the final turn. Some great riding by all of the involved jockies, including Saez on the 7.
It was not the right call
 

Cindog28

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"Barbaro (horse) Barbaro (April 29, 2003January 29, 2007) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who decisively won the 2006 Kentucky Derby, but shattered his leg two weeks later in the 2006 Preakness Stakes, which ended his racing career and eventually led to his death."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...ccountability-horse-racing-deaths/3634549002/

This horse was one of 23 who died at Santa Anita and left many unanswered questions

JOSH PETER | USA TODAY | 5:26 pm EDT May 3, 2019

"Less than two months into the winter meet, 19 horses had died on the racetrack, spurring protests by animal rights activists and fear over what might come next. Here was Battle of Midway, weeks after emerging as a possible favorite for the world’s richest horse race — the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 30 — standing in an ambulance with one hind leg cocked into the air.

The 5-year-old horse had lost his footing during a workout, was pulled up by his exercise rider and loaded into an ambulance with his fate uncertain.

The bone above the hoof in one of Battle of Midway’s hind legs was shattered. Because horses must be able to stand on all four legs, the horse could not be saved — so he became part of a growing controversy and an investigation occurring as the sport moves into its Triple Crown season with Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

“This industry has been killing horses since the beginning,” he said. “Let’s not pretend this is something that just recently happened.

“So when you ask, how come they’re not trying to identify wayward trainers, my answer to that is (industry members are) all complicit.”

The Jockey Club, a Thoroughbred industry organization, reported 493 horses in the USA died from racing-related injuries in 2018. Battuello said the total number of racehorse deaths, across all breeds, each year is about 2,000.

“Typically what happens in any animal exploitation industry is that the law defers to common industry practice,” he said, “and common industry practice in horse racing has been (use of) various drugs, whipping, running horses before they’re physically mature. So there is not going to be any accountability from outside of the industry. The industry is left to police itself.”

Looking to cash in, the horse’s owners put Battle of Midway out to stud on a farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He mated with 60 mares, impregnated only five and was declared subfertile.

Having insured Battle of Midway against subfertility, according to BloodHorse.com, the owners received an insurance payment, and Battle of Midway temporarily became property of the insurance company. Don Alberto and WinStar bought him back and put him back on the track. He quickly rounded into form, won three of his last four races and, upon his death, further stoked a controversy.

Three days later, after the death of yet another horse, the Stronach Group — which owns Santa Anita Park and tracks elsewhere around the country — shut down the dirt racing surface and said experts would be brought in to investigate. Racing resumed a little more than three weeks later. Another horse died during training.

Soon after the track reopened for racing, the horse death count reached 23, when Arms Runner suffered a fatal injury after colliding with another horse.




 

Anon1658882690

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I dropped $300 on race 20 mins before the start.. Buddy called me wanting to know if he wanted me to get him to place a bet on it.. Just said gate 7 whoever it is.. Story of my life..
 
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keefsopeng

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It was not the right call
It was absolutely the right call. Tyler did a hell of a job checking War Of Will who looked to be ready to roll when he ran his front legs up into and underneath Max Security for 3 strides was fouled majorly and derailed his run. Does he get up to win? I honestly doubt it but he didn't get the chance to roll home. He was right at the point to unleash everything he had and then checks up to avoid clicking heels and having both he and the #7 eat ****.

Real travesty of this race is two fold, Omaha Beach romps home today, no question in my mind. Second I hate to question Bobby B ever but jesus chirst can we get a real rider on Game Winner. Rosario just can't do it. I still think he's the best horse outside of Omaha Beach he just can not get a good trip. The fact he ran home for 5th today after his start, having to go all the way to the back instead of to the lead, and going wide the whole trip it's a freaking miracle. Improbable got a dream ride today, he doesn't have it. Take Irad off Improbale and put him on Game Winner. Irad is the best jock in the world today, put him on the best horse.
 

uky8unc5

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That's a one sided view. The people who collected the $132 win, $3,000 exacta, $11,400 tri, $51,000 super and $544,000 high five not to mention a .20 cent pick 6 for $271,000 probably see it differently. It was definitely the right call and took a lot of guts by the stewards. The recent deaths at Santa Anita also added to the importance of the dq because it was almost catastrophic. If either of the horses that clipped heels had gone down it would have been a chain reaction that could have caused death both equine and human. There was no human error either. The 7 horse just bolted when he heard the crowd coming around the final turn. Some great riding by all of the involved jockies, including Saez on the 7.
Anyone who watched the race with an experienced eye spotted the Foul LIVE when it happened. It was that obvious.

Anyone who plays the ponies regularly would be pissed if the Stewards had NOT disqualified. The only real question was: would they make such a call at the Derby. Gutsy but absolutely right.
 
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Mad Max

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The DQ was ridiculous. It probably was a foul, but you can't tell me that, with a 19 horse field, that same thing didn't happen a dozen other times in that race.
So your argument is that it was a foul, but it was a ridiculous call...hmmm...so what do they do when there is a call?

ImAgine being on trial, and saying “yeah,I broke into that store, but tell me that store hasn’t been broken into 20 times before”...

Kinda prove the point that’s counter to your point.
 

Pickle_Rick

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You people who are saying it was the right call because he left his lane ignore the fact that this happens in nearly every race. If lanes were so important then paint lines on the track, and start them staggered like human races. Admit that "jockeying for position" is just white privilege for the winners. But you can't, so you won't. MS had the lead. As far as I'm concerned it's the trailing jockeys job to avoid wherever he wants to go. Snowflakes think it was the lead jockeys job to be polite, and lose the race. That's why the second I saw the chief steward was a woman and was dithering that there was going to be a bad decision.

You just admitted that the impeding was obvious. If it was SO obvious, why did the decision take so long? It took so long because she was getting her "feels" all in order.
 
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BlueintheBrew

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It was the right call but the wrong horse. The win should have gone to WarofWill or Long Range Toddy as they were the ones actually impacted. Country House was never impeded, but because his Jockey claimed the infraction he won.
 
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WildcatfaninOhio

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The DQ was ridiculous. It probably was a foul, but you can't tell me that, with a 19 horse field, that same thing didn't happen a dozen other times in that race.

I watched the race live and watched all the replays. At no other point in the race did a horse leave his racing line enough to make other horses pull up. And only one objection was filed. It was over that single event. Which led to the review. Which led to the DQ.

I think we can all agree that the folks with the most knowledge of horse racing, and horse racing rules, were the stewards at Churchill Downs. At least I admit they have FAR more knowledge than do I. I defer to their decision as the right call.
 

BlueintheBrew

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You people who are saying it was the right call because he left his lane ignore the fact that this happens in nearly every race. If lanes were so important then paint lines on the track, and start them staggered like human races. Admit that "jockeying for position" is just white privilege for the winners. But you can't, so you won't. MS had the lead. As far as I'm concerned it's the trailing jockeys job to avoid wherever he wants to go. Snowflakes think it was the lead jockeys job to be polite, and lose the race. That's why the second I saw the chief steward was a woman and was dithering that there was going to be a bad decision.

You just admitted that the impeding was obvious. If it was SO obvious, why did the decision take so long? It took so long because she was getting her "feels" all in order.
Aww, so new to horse racing I see. Hope you enjoyed watching you first race yesterday.
 

tWildcat

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It was 100% the right call.

I was focused on the horse I picked, Tacitus, stuck in the middle. Next thing I know coming around the last turn the middle is wide open. I had no clue how it happened until I saw the replay.
 

WildcatfaninOhio

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You people who are saying it was the right call because he left his lane ignore the fact that this happens in nearly every race. If lanes were so important then paint lines on the track, and start them staggered like human races. Admit that "jockeying for position" is just white privilege for the winners. But you can't, so you won't. MS had the lead. As far as I'm concerned it's the trailing jockeys job to avoid wherever he wants to go. Snowflakes think it was the lead jockeys job to be polite, and lose the race. That's why the second I saw the chief steward was a woman and was dithering that there was going to be a bad decision.

You just admitted that the impeding was obvious. If it was SO obvious, why did the decision take so long? It took so long because she was getting her "feels" all in order.

Wow! The first time I read this I thought you might have been serious. But after a second and third read there's just too much misogynistic, Trumpish BS in there. My sarcasm meter finally went off. I got the joke! Made me LOL! Nice job.
 

uky8unc5

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It couldn't have been more right. As soon as the horse moved out and broke the stride of the 1 and 18 he was dq'ed. It was just a matter of whether they would call since it was the Derby. They made the hard call and should be praised for it. We need more of that in sports.
Perfect...
 

Old Blue Fart

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There is no question there was a foul during the race. Anyone who attends the track on a regular basis knows this.
The #7 did come out of his lane forcing others to make sudden changes.
For me, all the jockeys need to be patted on the back for a hell of a job avoiding a disaster that has been in the making for years; running 20 horses in such a crowded race is nuts.
Of course, the more the merry for Churchill $$$$$.
When the Derby race starts, the horses from the 14-15 post out have to make a mad rush to get up to the leaders.
The leaders of the Derby have created this and need to correct it before there is an injury to the horses and jockeys.
I love going to the track. The last few years, not so much. My reason for the decline in enthusiasm has to do with Churchill and its greed and power.
A large part of my business has me in the UL-Churchill Downs areas everyday. One of my customers owns a liquor store around this area. When Churchill extended its authority around last year closing streets all over the area, my friends store lost $12,000 on Derby Day due to the streets being closed. Derby is like Christmas for Toys R Us for these people.
I have gotten to know many people around this area and this one week parking cars, they can make several hundred dollars. Been doing this for years. Now, not so much. Churchill controls what happens around there now.
What ever is best for them is what takes place.
The average joe is no longer on Churchill Downs wish list.
Adding the Derby field to 20 horses was a disaster waiting to happen. Thank God the jockeys did what they did to avoid it this year.
But this year, it was the right call. Just like a ref in the championship game on a last second call; do you have to gonads to make the right call.
 

uky8unc5

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There is no question there was a foul during the race. Anyone who attends the track on a regular basis knows this. For me, all the jockeys need to be patted on the back for a hell of a job avoiding a disaster that has been in the making for years; running 20 horses in such a crowded race is nuts.
Well said.
 

BlueintheBrew

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Everyone in this thread saying it was the WRONG call doesn’t know **** about horse racing. Period.
My only beef is with the horse they elevated to first. 3 horses were impeded by Maximum Security but Country House wasn't one of them. In my opinion, War of Will was the only other horse who actually had his placing impacted. He very likely could have won if not for being cut-off having to be then be checked by his rider. However, since Pratt lodged the complaint he got the win.
 
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WildcatfaninOhio

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My only beef is with the horse they elevated to first. 3 horses were impeded by Maximum Security but Country House wasn't one of them. In my opinion, War of Will was the only other horse who actually had his placing impacted. He very likely could have won if not for being cut-off having to be then be checked by his rider.

There's just no way for anyone to predict what might have happened if the foul had not occurred. The only option they have is to remove the DQed horse and rider from the finishing order.
 

55wildcat

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LineSkiCat14

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That's a one sided view. The people who collected the $132 win, $3,000 exacta, $11,400 tri, $51,000 super and $544,000 high five not to mention a .20 cent pick 6 for $271,000 probably see it differently. It was definitely the right call and took a lot of guts by the stewards. The recent deaths at Santa Anita also added to the importance of the dq because it was almost catastrophic. If either of the horses that clipped heels had gone down it would have been a chain reaction that could have caused death both equine and human. There was no human error either. The 7 horse just bolted when he heard the crowd coming around the final turn. Some great riding by all of the involved jockies, including Saez on the 7.

Good point. Can you imagine the bad publicity if a giant wreck at the biggest race? I have to imagine that could have turned into a catastrophic pile up. Would not be good for the sport that already has a good portion of society up in arms over the "savagery" of it.
 

Bungalow Bill

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You people who are saying it was the right call because he left his lane ignore the fact that this happens in nearly every race. If lanes were so important then paint lines on the track, and start them staggered like human races. Admit that "jockeying for position" is just white privilege for the winners. But you can't, so you won't. MS had the lead. As far as I'm concerned it's the trailing jockeys job to avoid wherever he wants to go. Snowflakes think it was the lead jockeys job to be polite, and lose the race. That's why the second I saw the chief steward was a woman and was dithering that there was going to be a bad decision.

You just admitted that the impeding was obvious. If it was SO obvious, why did the decision take so long? It took so long because she was getting her "feels" all in order.
The horse left his lane and swerved into the path of 2 horses creating a chain reaction. The jockey couldn't react quick enough to keep it from happening. This "bolting" by the horse effected the race to the point where it had to be a DQ. One of the reasons the stewards took so long was because they had to get the input of probably 10 jocks effected by it but another reason I think was because if they ruled very quickly they would have been criticized for not doing their due diligence. Any other race and they would have ruled it a dq in 5 minutes but it was the biggest race of the year so they took their time and got it right.
 
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LineSkiCat14

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I was actually up n Saratoga, NY for the race. There was a Margarita/Taco bar crawl for Cinco De Mayo, but a lot of people were out for the race, being Toga and all. It was pretty wild to watch with thousands of people. The bars were nuts.
 

BlueintheBrew

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There's just no way for anyone to predict what might have happened if the foul had not occurred. The only option they have is to remove the DQed horse and rider from the finishing order.
It just seems tainted to give it to a horse who wasn't going to win regardless. That much was easy to see because War of Will was moving the fastest of the front wave coming into the end of the turn. He appeared to be about to blow by everybody. He gets cut off by MS and knocked into LRT. LRT gets close to CH but avoids contact leaving him moving freely in the 5 path. Then, while correcting, MS interferes with the rail horse who had a legit shot also. So out of 5 horses, the horse who never actually was impeded and still did not have a legit chance to win somehow won because his jockey actually lodged a complaint. It just leaves a lot of disappointment for viewers. However, as the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
 

UK 82

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It was the right call . My wife won 1,320 on the winner.
I lost about eighty bucks on #7 . Great Derby .
Same exact scenario for me. I'm happy. 20 bucks on each horse to win.