Shocking Kentucky Derby Finish

They don’t call the Kentucky Derby the “most exciting 2 minutes in sports” for nothing but the most intense part happened 22 minutes after the finish this year.  Maximum Security, the 9-2 favorite to win the event, did so by a length and a half. However, the victory was short lived as officials disqualified the previously undefeated horse because he went outside his lane and cut off other horses, constituting in an interference violation. This is the first time in Derby history that the favorite finished first, but did not win the race.

With Maximum Security out, the new winner is runner-up Country House, a 65-1 longshot. The new trifecta after the disqualification runs as:

1. Country House (65-1)
2. Code of Honor (13-1)
3. Tacitus (5-1)

Betting Implications

Horse racing was practically made for sports betting and the Kentucky Derby draws in hundreds of millions of dollars in wagers each year. Country House, at that incredible 65-1, was the second largest longshot to win. The largest in history was back in 1913 with Donerail at 91-1. With 65-1 post time odds, Country House paid $132.40 to win, according to the Associated Press.

This wild change of events cost punters around $9 million in win, show, and place bets. NINE MILLION DOLLARS.

The #KentuckyDerby DQ of Maximum Security caused a five-figure swing against the house @SuperBookUSA. "We went from a good sized win to a good sized loss," @vegasmurray.

— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) May 4, 2019

As of Friday night, William Hill reported that Country House brought in only 2% of bets received. The crowd at Churchill Downs was stunned. Fans from 31 states in America that legally allow sports betting were probably just as understandably stunned. Some bookmakers scrambled to make things right, offering refunds up to $10 on bets made on Maximum Security.

Payout

Country House: $132.40 (Win), $56.60 (Place), $24.60 (Show)

Code of Honor: $15.20 (Place), $9.80 (Show)

Tacitus: $5.60 (Show)

The $2 exacta paid out an astounding $3,009.60, the $1 trifecta came in at $11,475.30, and the $1 superfecta topped them all with an unbelievable $51,400.10!

About Country House

Joseph V. Shields Jr. owns the 3 year old colt who became the official winner of the 2019 Kentucky Derby. Prior to this race, Country House had only won once in 6 tries. He earned his trip to the Kentucky Derby by placing 2nd in the Risen Star, 4th in the Louisiana Derby, and 3rd in the Arkansas Derby. Country House thrives in the mud, which helped him run a one of his best races on a sloppy-sealed track.

“You say you always want to win with a clean trip and everyone recognize the horse as the as the great athlete he is and due to the DQ some of that is diminished. People bet on these horses and millions are bet on these races. I know the stewards had a very difficult decision. With that being said, I’m damn glad they put our number up.” –Trainer Bill Mott

The colt’s jockey that day was Flavien Prat, an experienced French jockey with almost 600 career wins. Prat, along with one other jockey, brought the initial complaint to the stewards.

Up Next

Some believe Country House’s win was a fluke, but he did have a great race. Is it possible for him to take the Triple Crown? The next test for this young horse is the Preakness Stakes, held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on May 18th. The final leg of the Triple Crown series falls on June 8th with the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York.

Do you think Country House has what it takes to win it all? Check out our horse race promotions and get in the action!