One More Bit of Bad News for Horse Racing Fans

The odds of a Triple Crown winner sank considerably when Maximum Security was disqualified at the Kentucky Derby. Now, they've disappeared entirely. Derby winner Country House—named the winner after the disqualification—will not run in the Preakness, reports the Daily Racing Form. It quotes trainer Bill Mott as saying the horse is coughing and seems to have "a little viral thing" that will keep him out of action for a few weeks.

"He's off the training list, and if he's off the training list he's off the Preakness list," says Mott. The last derby winner to miss the Preakness was Grindstone back in 1996, notes USA Today. Maximum Security won't be running in the Preakness, either. Nor will derby runner-up Code of Honor. (And all this happened after the initial derby favorite had to drop out a day before the race.)