BALTIMORE — Maximum Security owner Gary West has issued a multimillion dollar challenge to the owners of four horses that benefited from his horse’s historic disqualification in the Kentucky Derby.
In a statement Friday, West said he would pay each of those owners $5 million apiece if Country House, War of Will, Long Range Toddy or Bodexpress finish ahead of Maximum Security in the next race against him through the end of the year.
West offered an alternate possibility of a $1.86 million wager — the winner’s share for the Kentucky Derby.
Maximum Security crossed the finish line first in the Derby on May 4 but was disqualified for interference and placed 17th. Country House, who finished second, was elevated to first, War of Will from eighth to seventh, Bodexpress from 14th to 13th and Long Range Toddy from 17th to 16th.
West and his wife, Mary, filed a lawsuit this week against the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and stewards over the first disqualification of a Derby winner in the race’s 145-year history.
The Wests elected not to run Maximum Security in the Preakness. War of Will and Bodexpress are in the field.