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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — This has not been horse racing’s finest hour: Dead horses at Santa Anita Park and consternation among horse people that they can treat their athletes better but have failed to do so. It’s little wonder then that the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday ended in astonishment and controversy.
See, Maximum Security won America’s most famous race on the track. Until he didn’t. Yes, he crossed the finish line first, by all appearances remaining unbeaten and giving a hard-knocking trainer from the Mid-Atlantic, Jason Servis, and his up-and-coming jockey, Luis Saez, their first Derby victories.