Ky Derby Day After: Shug McGaughey on Code of Honor, winner's DQ

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey reflects on Code of Honor being placed second in the Kentucky Derby and the events that took place with Maximum Security, the first-place finisher disqualified to 17th, and adjudged winner Country House.

[@joechrow8341]

Must be kind of disappointing as a Trainer knowing you will never get the chance to Train another Horse as Brilliant as Easy Goer...Shug must feel so blessed to have Trained such a Top Horse like that

[@seabiscuit6776]

It shouldn't have been a jockey objection. It should have been a stewards inquiry. That was blatant and changed the outcome of the race.

[@perryberman2824]

seabiscuit6776 You're right. I'm surprised.

[@sydneyfoote718]

We live by Rules and Laws,if there were no Rules and Laws what sort of world would we be living in?

[@halifaxhunting1034]

What about afleet Alex getting clipped n then actually winning though.

[@RovingRoy]

Part of being the best horse is playing within the rules by the jockey and horse. So if there was an infraction, it doesn't matter how good MS was, that horse should've been disqualified.

[@wakeup5091]

Man up! It was an ice rink, so what do you expect?

[@sydneyfoote718]

No laws give me my gun

[@moelarrycurly708]

All four horses had a fair run at the finish after MS broke wide , they were almost side by side and one of those race horses out ran the others on the home stretch. There were 18 young unexperienced horses running in 4 inches of slop and they're expected to hold their course on a turn at 40 miles per hr, Professional men woman need painted lines to stay in there lane at 15 miles per hr and they don't run in mud.

[@allasonphillip4445]

In last year Kentucky Derby, this same Jockey Luis Saez, riding no hoper MAGNUM MOON, willfully swerved violently left at the start, not once, but twice, and the double contact ended the chances of MENDELSSOHN, the 2nd favourite and British challenger to JUSTIFY. Yes Folks, KARMA. His twist of fate was decided 1 year ago.

[@raymondcancel7011]

The Stuarts robbed Maximum security! They disqualify a horse for something that could"ve happen but did not happen and that is that he could"ve cause a spilled of horses but it did not happen! That was ridiculous!

[@kearysibille3292]

Steward's and it was the correct call a tuff one but they got it right

[@kearysibille3292]

@Josef Copernicus I've been in the business 30+ years I know better than you sorry to bust your bubble but they made the correct call period

[@kearysibille3292]

@Josef Copernicus I didn't say he didn't get spooked. That's not a reason to not be DQ they DQ horses who get spooked and impede other horses. Don't take it personally the correct call was made. You have a nice day

[@kearysibille3292]

@Josef Copernicus grain room? Conversation over you poor idiot

[@seabiscuit6776]

He changed the outcome of the race. He cut off two other horses that were making their stretch run. Unfortunately three yr old horses are still green. But it's a professional race and the horse made a mistake. He had to come down.

[@mikecrawford73]

trump shoud hire this dude if i could get my money back from the horse s that interfered with mine

[@davidstrotherssr.1683]

Too many horses,everyone knows it.14 should be the max.

[@vincentflauto7650]

The closest thing that’s ever happened to this is when Bet twice came over on Alysheba and almost knocked him down if bet twice would’ve won that race he would’ve been disqualified for sure

[@silvereyedstacker1842]

Watch Country House during the race. He impeded and interfered with several horses. Country House came over and slammed Code of Honor just before the first turn. Country House also made both Roadster and Bodexpress check during the race, the latter around the final turn. By the stewards logic, Code of Honor should have won the race and Country House should have been DQd, especially since MS was. But, the stewards only apply the asinine rules arbitrarily. It also shows that Shug is more honorable than Mott and the stewards are incompetent. Seriously, watch the replay of Country House in the KD.

[@drewrockwell8000]

Yep both should have been qd

[@agustindejesus7398]

Silver, what ever happened with any of 5 horses in front was because Maximum caused it and those other horses inter one another.

[@pattiwinn5217]

The Saddest Derby Ever!

[@racinford1]

Shut? Dont know the rule? yes you do.

[@richardberry8756]

Every body is missing the whole picture a plumer has the tools to do every and any job but he does not get them all out on one job. The stuarts have the right to do what they did. But consider the race and the horse never been beat that makes him the best 3yr. now had a chance to win triple crown. They just was not thinking . Country house cant win it

[@perryberman2824]

Josef Copernicus No. Actually MS bumped Code of honor when he came back over. MS came within inches of causing a total disaster.

[@jamesreed7566]

Great trainer.

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

Here is a class act right, really nice guy. I think everyone knows that 20 horses is too many. Most Derby's have bumping around and interference. Maybe CD is going to clean it up, but really a big factor is the 20 horse field.

[@davidstrotherssr.1683]

Will we ever know who is really the best horse on the triple crown circuit if Max doesn't run. Put him in, racing needs these two right now.

[@drewrockwell8000]

Nope both not running

[@tadvanallen]

Johnny was passing Max on rail with good speed, and got Creamed on the rail by Max, during Max's wondering around.. Code fully lost momentum. Code-Max-Country-Tacitus should been the result!

[@silvereyedstacker1842]

tadvanallen He didn’t get slammed by Max. Only light bumping. The horse he got slammed by was Country House going into the first turn. Code of Honor almost got knocked off his feet by Country House, and if the stewards didn’t apply rules arbitrarily, COH should have been declared the winner under their “logic”. Country House interfered with several horses during the race, and it just sucks that he won especially since he also interfered and that the best horse got taken down.