March 28, 2024

The most costly disqualifications in horse racing history

What other disqualifications were costly in horse racing?

The 2019 Kentucky Derby disqualification of Maximum Security from first to 17th will go down as one of the most significant disqualifications in the history of the American Turf, not only because it happened in the world’s most famous horse race, but because of the money that changed hands.

There have been 10 disqualifications from first in $1 million races in North America.

This is the first worth at least $3 million and first at Churchill Downs.

Horse Purse Track Surface Year Stakes Adjusted Finish Odds
Maximum Security $3M CD D 2019 Kentucky Derby 17 9-2
Monomoy Girl $1M PRX D 2018 Cotillion S. 2 1-2
She’s a Tiger $2M SA D 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies 2 5.2-1
The Apache (SAF) $1M AP T 2013 Arlington Million S. 2 6.6-1
Powerscourt (GB) $1M AP T 2004 Arlington Million S. 4 4.6-1
Storming Home (GB) $1M AP T 2003 Arlington Million S. 4 2.4-1
Hawksley Hill (IRE) $1.05M WO T 1999 Atto Mile S. 4 5.2-1
The Wicked North $1M SA D 1994 Santa Anita H. 4 9-5
Wiorno (GB) $1.06M WO T 1992 Rothmans Ltd. International S. 3 11.8-1
Fran’s Valentine $1M HOL D 1984 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies 10 74.8-1

generated 2019-05-07 10:09:09 by HeidiSQL 10.1.0.5464

Grade 1 disqualifications are a little more common.

They’ve happened 19 times this century—most recently before the Kentucky Derby in the 2018 Cotillion Stakes at Parx, where Monomoy Girl was placed second behind Midnight Bisou. That tally also includes the 2002 Carolina First Carolina Cup Hurdle Stakes steeplechase. Country House is the biggest price put up via DQ in a Grade 1 race. His 65.2-to-1 Kentucky Derby odds easily surpasses Quiet Resolve getting put up at 44.55-to-1 when Hawksley Hill was placed fourth in the 1999 Atto (Woodbine) Mile Stakes.

144.55-191.10117.5-137.00115.7-133.40111.1-124.2019.7-121.40

Horse Purse Track Surface Year Stakes Adjusted Finish Odds Win payoff
Country House $3M CD D 2019 Kentucky Derby 1 65.2-1 132.40
Quiet Resolve $1.05M WO T 1999 Atto Mile S.
Ria Antonia $2M SA D 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies 1 32.3-1 66.60
Burning Roma $200,000 BEL D 2000 Futurity S.
Stuka $1M SA D 1994 Santa Anita H.
Cape Town $750,000 GP D 1998 Florida Derby 1 12.9-1 27.80
Giant Oak $500,000 CD D 2010 Clark H.
Kicken Kris $1M AP T 2004 Arlington Million S.

generated 2019-05-07 10:19:48 by HeidiSQL 10.1.0.5464

What about jockey DQs?

On the jockey side of things, Jorge Velasquez leads all riders with four disqualifications from Grade 1-winning rides while this was Luis Saez’s first. On the flip side, Hall of Fame pilots Pat Day, Kent Desormeaux and Chris McCarron are tied with three put ups each, while this is Prat’s first.

So far this century, T.D. Houghton has been placed first more times than any other rider with 38.

The most disqualified rider (from first) in that same time is J.D. Acosta with 33.

HANSON: Five historical disqualifications that remain controversial

8 Comments on The most costly disqualifications in horse racing history

  1. i guest now we will have to wait 30 minutes before we know the order of finish in future derbies as their is always lots of bumping in ever derby. some for 5 place
    to 3rd place . not always for first place . probably open the door for 4 or 5 objections in all future derbies. oh – by the way i guess seattle slew really wasn’t a triple crown winner. he nearly put a horse over the rail in the first turn of the derby. shame on mott – I hope he never gets another good horse to train. Big Big mistake. the beginning of the end for horse racing

  2. I don’t play the G-1 Stakes. Come on, a 17-20 horse field; what could possibly go wrong? I used to play the Triple Crown races because I felt it was an obligation. The good thing, unlike claimers, is that they’re all trying to win. the bad thing is that they are all trying to win. I did watch the replay several times and didn’t see anything serious enough to warrant DQ, especially after a jockey objection which seldom holds up.

  3. the only problem i have with Ky.Derby DQ is the horse put up was the one that claimed foul was not interfered with. the jockey, the trainer, the Owner of the horse interfered with did not claim foul.

  4. They were all bunched up how can they even let a jockey objection be called, It was total robbery they should arrest the stewart’s for robbery.

  5. Hard to believe that this time I didn’t have money on the horse. In the past I have had some that cost me lots of money. One that pops to my mind right off was at Turf Paradise about 10 years ago, maybe 15. I had a 25/1 shot that caused interference right out of the gate he won the race easy. I had a trifecta, exacta,pick 4 Pic 3 and $20w/p on him.in all I think he caused my to lose out on about $12,000. Had some other that were very costly.What about early this year when someone got dq. out of the only ticket on the rainbow p-6 at gp.Shit happens.

  6. AS A HORSE OWNER FOR OVER 30 YEARS I KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO GET A DQ THERE ARE MORE WAYS TO LOOSE A RACE THAN WIN ONE.AFTER 10 MINUTES I FELT THIS HORSE WAS COMING DOWN THE LONG DELAY WAS TO FIGURE OUT THE PLACEMENT OF THE HORSES.20 HORSES ON AN OFF TRACK TOLD ME TO USE AN ALL IN THAT RACE.I HAD THE LAST PICK 3. MADE MY DAY

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