Maximum Security owner Gary West is throwing down the gauntlet and says he will put $20 million of his own money up to challenge four other Kentucky Derby horses, including controversial winner Country House, to another race before the end of 2019.

In the aftermath of his horse's disqualification from the Derby earlier this month, West is challenging Country House, War of Will, Long Range Toddy and Bodexpress.

West's statement said he would pay up if any of those horses, offered $5 million each from the $20 million pot, finished ahead of Maximum Security in a race before Jan. 1, 2020. Owners who take West up on his unique challenge would be asked to wager $5 million of their own money to pay if Maximum Security finishes ahead of their horse.

No restrictions on the race – from location to distance to track surface – were set in West's statement.

He isn't asking the four horses to finish first in the race, either. West's offer is based on head-to-head results against Maximum Security.

The challenge also doesn't require the five horses to run in the same race. The four challenges could come in four separate races, he said.

In the statement released Friday afternoon, West said his challenge had nothing to do with the disqualification, which he has challenged in court. Instead, he said he hopes to generate additional interest in the sport, which has been in the spotlight in recent weeks following the unprecedented disqualification.

Maximum Security crossed the finish line first nearly two weeks ago in the 145th Kentucky Derby but was disqualified after Churchill Downs stewards ruled he had interfered with War of Will in the final turn. Country House, a 65-1 long shot who was the second to cross the finish line, was declared the winner.

“Most experts agree that Maximum Security was the best horse in the Kentucky Derby,” West said the statement. “I don’t care to discuss the controversy surrounding the events of the race and the disqualification of my horse at this time, but I firmly believe I have the best 3-year-old in the country and I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is.”

Lucas Aulbach can be reached at laulbach@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4649 or on