This weekend, at the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby - that’s one hundred and forty-five, that’s “something that’s been happening since ten years after the Civil War ended”, something happened that’s never happened. The race was run, a horse crossed the finish line first, was declared the winner...
... and then a flag was thrown.
First-line-crosser and apparent winner Maximum Security’s victory was challenged by multiple riders who claimed that he’d swung wide on the final turn, bumping their horses and impeding them from victory. An official objection was raised, and a 22-minute delay ensued before Maximum Security was disqualified, elevating second-place finisher and 65-to-1 longshot Country House to a shocking and tainted-in-the-eyes-of-some Derby victory.