Nearly 25 minutes after it appeared the 3-year-old colt had won the 145th Run for the Roses, the horse was disqualified for impeding War of Will on the final turn. Country House, a 65-1 long shot, was declared the winner despite finishing 1 1/2 lengths back of Maximum Security at the finish.
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On the final turn of the 1 1/4-mile race, Maximum Security swerved off the rail into the path of War of Will (No. 1) and then briefly in the way of Long Range Toddy (No. 18), nearly causing a catastrophic collision. Stewards reviewed video replays of the race while jockeys, owners and trainers anxiously awaited official results on the sloppy Churchill Downs track.
It was the first time in Kentucky Derby history that the horse that finished first was disqualified. The win was trainer Bill Mott and jockey Flavien Prat’s first Kentucky Derby victory. Country House was the second-longest shot to ever win the Derby, behind only Donerail’s 91-1 upset in 1913. War of Will officially finished seventh, while Code of Honor finished second.
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