Churchill Downs decided to cap the Kentucky Derby at 20 horses, and the debate has raged ever since: “Is the Derby too crowded?”
CLOSE Horse racing reporter Jason Frakes breaks down controversial stretch of the Kentucky Derby that saw Maximum Security disqualified. Louisville Courier Journal
Earlie Fires, whose Sharp Gary finished 13th in that 1974 Derby, sounded like a jockey straight out of the 21st century. Traffic issues are a given in a 20-horse field and have become as much a part of the Derby experience as mint juleps and jacked-up hotel rates. But with his first-ever Derby victory taken away, Maximum Security owner Gary West placed the blame on Churchill Downs.
But why does Churchill Downs subject itself to such criticism when the standard limit for every other major race in the United States — including the Preakness and Belmont — is 14 horses? Mike Costello, president of United Puett Electrical Starting Gate Corporation, said the majority of tracks use 12-horse gates these days because of diminishing field sizes.
Of the horses ranked Nos. 15-20 in the points standings since 2013, six have finished among the top four in the Derby — Country House , Instilled Regard , Lookin At Lee , Battle of Midway , Commanding Curve and Golden Soul .
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