In a shocking turn of events, Kentucky Derby favorite Maximum Security crossed the finish line first but became the first winner disqualified for interference in the race’s 145-year history. After reviewing videos for 22 minutes, officials disqualified Maximum Security and gave the win to long shot Country House. As a result, bettors who backed Maximum Security to win, place or show lost about $9 million, according to TwinSpires.com.
Country House, at 65-1, had the second-longest odds of any Kentucky Derby winner. Across the U.S. more than $6.2 million was wagered on Maximum Security to win and only $520,907 on Country House. The largest win bet reported on Maximum Security was $8,000, which would have paid a net $36,000, and the largest win bet on Country House was $2,500, paying a net $162,500, according to TwinSpires.com. Maximum Security also had $1,495,408 bet to place and $1,272,082 to show.
At the SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas, Sportsbook Director John Murray said, “We went from a good-sized win to a good-sized loss. The SuperBook animal racing trade team is annoyed by the decision.”
At William Hill sportsbooks in Nevada, only 1 percent of bets and 1 percent of the total amount wagered on the Kentucky Derby futures market were on Country House, whose odds were as long as 80-1 in February at William Hill.
But one lucky bettor at the Mirage racebook turned $8 into $78,000 when he hit two identical $4 superfectas that paid $51,400 each, $39,065 after taxes. Mirage Sportsbook Shift Manager Scott Shelton said, “It was a miracle. He must’ve been a saint in a previous life running into buildings to get babies or something for everything to happen for him to cash those tickets. I don’t know if anyone else in the country bet $4 to win that super. To do it basically straight and have a horse come down so he can win, that was a miracle.” Shelton said the bettor, a regular at the Mirage, watched the race with his mother and “was basically in shock. He doesn’t bet big at all.”
Churchill Downs officials said Kentucky Derby wagering increased 10 percent to a record $165.5 million, beating last year’s record $149.9 million. Wagering from all sources on the 14-race card totaled a record $250.9 million, up 11 percent over 2018’s $225.7 million total.
