Owner Gary West to appeal against controversial Kentucky Derby demotion

Owner Gary West will lodge an appeal against the controversial decision of the Churchill Downs stewards to sensationally demote Maximum Security from first place in the Kentucky Derby for causing interference.

West hinted at an appeal in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's dramatic event and he will take that course of action in an episode that has generated debate on a global scale.

Speaking on NBC network's Today Show on Monday, West said: "The appeal has to be filed within 48 hours and we're going to file it with the state racing commission today."

West expressed frustration that he has not been able to meet with the stewards to hear their explanation.

"Right after the race I had the trainer [Jason Servis] call the stewards to see if they could visit us and they said absolutely not as they won't be showing the films until Thursday," West said.

"The entire racing world is looking at this and we need to know what was really going on. I was shocked and surprised the stewards refused to take a single question from the media and they've been as non-transparent as anything I've seen."

One thing that is for certain is that Maximum Security will not be looking to gain compensation in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 18.

"There's no Triple Crown on the line and no reason to run back in two weeks when you don't have to," added West.

On Sunday evening, Kentucky chief state steward Barbara Borden said the stewards would be willing to meet with West, or other licence-holders involved, when they sit down on Thursday with jockeys involved in the incident. She also said the meeting could happen before Thursday.

Borden said she was not able to review the video with West or trainer Jason Servis because there were two races remaining on the card and, typically, reviews are not conducted on the same day stewards' decisions are made.

After the Derby card was complete, Borden offered a statement providing detail on the disqualification of Maximum Security from first place to 17th, explaining the stewards unanimously determined he had interfered with War Of Will coming out of the far turn, causing chain-reaction interference with Long Range Toddy and Bodexpress.

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