Kentucky Derby DQ voted 'Moment of the Year'
The first disqualification in Kentucky Derby history for a racing infraction was overwhelmingly voted as the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s “Moment of the Year,” the association announced on Thursday.
The disqualification of Maximum Security from last year’s Derby received 390 of the 1,072 votes cast for the award, far outdistancing the second-place candidate, Belvoir Bay’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, which received 129 votes, according to the NTRA. The run by Bodexpress in the Preakness after he had unseated his rider at the start was third with 121 votes. Fourteen “moments” from last year were offered as candidates.
The disqualification dominated the news cycle for days after the Kentucky Derby was run. Country House, who finished second under the line, was awarded the win, with Maximum Security demoted to 17th. Maximum Security’s owners later filed a federal lawsuit against the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission over the decision, but the suit was thrown out.
“The ruling resonated on several fronts,” the NTRA said in a release, “from giving Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott his first win in the Run for the Roses to the legal wrangling which ensued in the aftermath.”
The NTRA has administered the Moment of the Year award since 1999. The award will be recognized during the Eclipse Awards ceremony on Thursday night.
