Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Thoroughbred horse racing was arguably the most popular sport in the United States for several decades. But, like boxing, it has largely fallen off the national radar other than the Kentucky Derby and if a horse is going for the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes as was the case in 2018 with Justify, who did complete it.

This year’s Kentucky Derby was historic for all the wrong reasons as original winner Maximum Security, clearly the best horse in the race in leading nearly wire-to-wire, was disqualified because he drifted into the path of another couple of horses. It was the first time ever that a Derby winner was DQ’d for an in-race foul. Country House, who had finished second, was named the winner. A huge black eye for the sport but in a way a great thing because it was a major talking point nationally for a few days even outside of sports. Horse racing was in the news again, even if for the wrong reasons.

Alas, horse racing just can’t get out of its own way. Maximum Security will not run in this week’s 144th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore essentially because his owner is still peeved over the Derby result. With no possible Triple Crown to race for, Gary West opted to not bring Maximum Security back just two weeks later. There will be no Triple Crown this year because Country House developed a minor illness a few days after the Derby and also won’t be in the Preakness. It’s the first time since 1996 that a Derby winner won’t run in the Preakness.