2019 Kentucky Derby
The 2019 Kentucky Derby (officially, the 2019 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve) was the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby, and took place on Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Kentucky. The field was open to 20 horses, who qualified for the race by earning points on the 2019 Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Derby is held annually on the first Saturday in May, at the end of the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. It is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km), and has been run at Churchill Downs racetrack since its inception in 1875. The purse for 2019 was increased from US$2 million to US$3 million.
| Kentucky Derby | |
| Grade I stakes race | |
| Location | Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, United States |
|---|---|
| Date | May 4, 2019 |
| Winning horse | Country House (by disqualification) |
| Winning time | 2:03.93 |
| Final odds | 65–1 |
| Jockey | Flavien Prat |
| Trainer | William I. Mott |
| Owner | Shields, McFadden & LNJ Foxwoods |
| Conditions | Sloppy |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Attendance | 150,729 |
The race was broadcast by NBC, with coverage by NBCSN of undercard races beginning at 12:30 pm EDT and main network coverage of pre-race activities starting at 2:30 pm EDT. Cleveland Browns star quarterback Baker Mayfield provided the "Riders Up".
Although Maximum Security crossed the finish line before long shot Country House, Maximum Security was disqualified and the victory was awarded to Country House after Maximum Security was judged to have cost War of Will and Long Range Toddy a better placing in the race when he swerved into their path, causing them to check strides.