The leadup to the 2019 Kentucky Derby was full of excitement, and the race was the same with our first ever disqualification as the winner changed hands from Maximum Security to Country House after a lengthy review. Maximum Security appeared to have won the 2019 Kentucky Derby but was disqualified making Country House the winner. Maximum Security’s unofficial time was 2:03.93 but was disqualified. The result made Country House the winner with 65 to 1 odds.
It marks the first time in the history of the race that the winner has been handed the roses after a disqualification to the horse that crossed the finish line first. Here is a brief explanation and video clip of the incident that was in question.
Maximum Security soared up the odds to become the late favorite prior to the race. Omaha Beach began the week as the favorite but was scratched mid-week throwing the field into a frenzy. Bob Baffert had three horses in the race: Game Winner, Improbable and Roadster.
Baffert Was Going for His 5th Kentucky Derby Win, But Finished Outside the Top 3
Baffert was looking for his second straight victory at Churchill Downs. The legendary trainer had three of the top contenders and the odds said he had a good chance to do just that. Instead, Baffert’s horses finished outside the top three even with the disqualification.
“I really don’t think about that [winning his sixth Kentucky Derby],” Baffert told Horse Racing Nation. “I think about enjoying the moment. I’m a day-to-day kind of guy,” Baffert said. “I always go into these races, expect the worst, hope for the best because if you get too excited, you have a letdown. This game will…you’ve got to be careful with it. I’m already prepared for a beating so if we win, it’s exciting.”
Here is a look at the Kentucky Derby results and betting payouts.
Kentucky Derby Results 2019
The following results are courtesy of NBC Sports. Maximum Security was initially declared the winner but was disqualified after the review. This made Country House the winner of the 2019 Kentucky Derby.
| POST | HORSE |
| 1. | Country House |
| 2. | Code of Honor |
| 3. | Tacitus |
| 4. | Improbable |
| 5. | Game Winner |
| 6. | Master Fencer |
| 7. | War of Will |
| 8. | Plus Que Parfait |
| 9. | Win Win Win |
| 10. | Cutting Humor |
| 11. | By My Standings |
| 12. | Vekoma |
| 13. | Bodexpress |
| 14. | Tax |
| 15. | Roadster |
| 16. | Long Range Toddy |
| 17. | Spinoff |
| 18. | Gray Magician |
| SCR | Haikal |
| SCR | Omaha Beach |
Betting Payouts: Win, Place & Show
The following data is courtesy of NBC and is based on a $2 bet. The numbers to the left of the horse are its post position.
| HORSE | WIN | PLACE | SHOW |
| 20 Country House | $132.40 | $56.60 | $24.60 |
| 13 Code of Honor | $15.20 | $9.80 | |
| 8 Tacitus | $5.60 |
Kentucky Derby Betting Payouts: Exacta, Trifecta & Superfecta
| $2 EXACTA | $1 TRIFECTA | $1 SUPERFECTA |
| 20-13 | 20-13-8 | 20-13-8-5 |
| $3,009.60 | $11,475.30 | $51,400.10 |
Kentucky Derby 2019: Horses, Jockeys & Post Positions
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEYS |
| 1. | War of Will | Tyler Gaffalione |
| 2. | Tax | Junior Alvarado |
| 3. | By My Standards | Gabriel Saez |
| 4. | Gray Magician | Drayden Van Dyke |
| 5. | Improbable | Irad Ortiz Jr. |
| 6. | Vekoma | Javier Castellano |
| 7. | Maximum Security | Luis Saez |
| 8. | Tacitus (SHOW) | Jose Ortiz |
| 9. | Plus Que Parfait | Ricardo Santana Jr. |
| 10. | Cutting Humor | Mike Smith |
| 11. | SCR | |
| 12. | SCR | |
| 13. | Code of Honor (PLACE) | John Velasquez |
| 14. | Win Win Win | Julian Pimental |
| 15. | Master Fencer | Julien Leparoux |
| 16. | Game Winner | Joel Rosario |
| 17. | Roadster | Florent Geroux |
| 18. | Long Range Toddy | Jon Court |
| 19. | Spinoff | Manny Franco |
| 20. | Country House (WIN) | Flavien Prat |
| 21. | Bodexpress | Chris Landeros |