Kentucky Derby: Country House wins after Maximum Security disqualified

Chris Landeros aboard Bodexpress (left) races Luis Saez aboard Maximum Security (right) during the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Maximum Security (right), ridden by Luis Saez, was disqualified for impeding other horses

Country House won the 2019 Kentucky Derby after Maximum Security became the first victor in the race’s 145-year history to be disqualified on the day.

The favourite crossed the line first in front of 150,000 fans at Churchill Downs but was ruled to have impeded other horses in the $3m (£2.2m) race.

Maximum Security was disqualified after a stewards’ inquiry lasting 20 minutes.

It left 65-1 outsider Country House, ridden by Flavian Prat for trainer Bill Mott, to be declared the winner.

The decision to strip Maximum Security of the victory was later criticised by US president Donald Trump, who blamed it on “political correctness”.

“The Kentucky Derby decision was not a good one,” Trump tweeted.