NEW YORK _ What a bizarre month for thoroughbred racing. Thanks to _ or maybe no thanks to _ the historic disqualification of the Kentucky Derby winner for interference, a niche sport suddenly became a mainstream obsession.
During an agonizingly long inquiry, "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" became "The Most Excruciating 22 Minutes in Sports." Maximum Security's DQ, although the right call, shocked and enraged. In a flash, tens of thousands of tickets went from golden to worthless. Social media spewed venom after the stewards awarded runner-up Country House, a 65-1 shot, a victory that millions thought he didn't deserve.
On to Pimlico, where poetic justice and War of Will triumphed. By somehow staying upright after Maximum Security veered into their path in the Derby, he and jockey Tyler Gaffalione prevented a catastrophic spill that would have unleashed hell on racing. Unfortunately, in the Preakness a loose horse got more attention than the winner. Bodexpress reared at the start, throwing John Velazquez, and galloped two laps with a ghost rider. Luckily, neither were hurt, and the Preakness' first runaway since 1974 didn't get in anybody's way.
