Maximum Security connections set to appeal against Kentucky Derby demotion

Owner Gary West has called Maximum Security's demotion from first to 17th in Saturday's Kentucky Derby "egregious", and has raised the likelihood of launching an appeal against the decision.

Undefeated prior to arriving at a rain-soaked Churchill Downs, the 9-2 second-favourite crossed the line first under Luis Saez leading to wild celebrations from jockey and connections.

However, 20 minutes later the scene could not have been more different after the stewards announced the winner's demotion on the grounds that he had "drifted out and impacted the number one [War Of Will], who in turn interfered with the 18 [Long Range Toddy] and 21 [Bodexpress]. Therefore, we unanimously determined to disqualify number seven and place him behind 18".

Second-placed Country House, trained by Bill Mott, was subsequently confirmed the winner.

Kentucky Derby result

Contacted by Associated Press on Saturday evening, West said: "I think this is the most egregious disqualification in the history of horse racing, and not just because it's our horse.

"If we can't appeal to the stewards then our other options are the state racing commission. If those don't work, we might go to legal options, but we have not seen what they saw."

Maximum Security's trainer Jason Servis echoed those sentiments, and said: "I think we can appeal to the stewards for sure. We're leaning that way. I think we are. I'll get with Mr West and see what we think."

Maximum Security passes the post first in the Kentucky Derby but was subsequently demoted to 17th following interference. Runner-up Country House (centre) was awarded the race by the Churchill Downs stewardsCredit: Jamie Squire (Getty Images)

West later reported he was told he would not be able to view the specific footage used by the stewards until Thursday [May 9], possibly necessitating an acceleration on the decision whether to appeal.

West added: "We'll just have to look at the films and see what we think after looking at them. We need to look at what the stewards looked at. If we can't look at films until Thursday, we'll have to make a decision before that, probably."

"If the horse did something wrong, then I won't feel bad at all."

West's reaction represented a marked departure from the magnanimity with which he met the stewards' decision in the moments after its announcement.

"That's horseracing," the owner said in the aftermath. "Sometimes good things happen. Sometimes bad things happen. You know something bad happened at least to us.

"But that just kind of goes with the game. We've been in it for 40 years now. We've had a lot of ups and downs."

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