Donald Trump blames 'political correctness' for Kentucky Derby controversy

US president Donald Trump has waded into the controversy surrounding Maximum Security's demotion in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, saying the decision by the Churchill Downs stewards was down to "political correctness".

Maximum Security passed the post a length and three-quarters ahead of runner-up Country House but was later demoted to 17th after stewards decided he had caused interference on the turn for home.

Trump, who attended Churchill Downs for the 1999 Run for the Roses with future wife Melania, tweeted – incorrectly spelling Kentucky – on Sunday: "The Kentuky Derby decision was not a good one. It was a rough and tumble race on a wet and sloppy track, actually, a beautiful thing to watch.

"Only in these days of political correctness could such an overturn occur. The best horse did NOT win the Kentucky Derby – not even close!"

Trump's previous comments on horseracing include at a rally in 2015 when he said US Triple Crown winner Secretariat "wasn't one of the best".

Read The Briefing from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news