Labelled ‘Cheater’ at Kentucky Derby 2024 by Spectators, Sierra Leone’s Tyler Gaffalione Appears to Avoid Chaos

The 150th Kentucky Derby on Saturday witnessed underdog Mystik Dan winning the race, leaving behind the popular horses Fierceness and Sierra Leone. Amid the excitement at Churchill Downs, where a crowd of 150,000 cheered for their favorites, Sierra’s loss was overshadowed by controversy involving their jockey.

Sierra Leone earned second place with a $4.64 win, while Forever Young stood third. Just after the race, an unexpected twist unfolded as Tyler Gaffalione, the jockey of Sierra Leone, found himself in the eye of a storm. The spectators raised concerns as photos emerged showing Gaffalione grabbing Forever Young near the finish line, labeling Sierra Leone a ‘cheater.’ Despite the accusations, some spectators tried to help Gaffalione escape the chaos with an explanation.

Tyler Gaffalione staying calm amidst a storm

Recently, a user posted a picture of the Kentucky Derby race on X handle raising the question, “What’s up with Tyler?” Reposting this a retired co-host from Daily Racing expressed a mix of scrutiny and curiosity, “After watching replay multiple times it seems to me he was trying to whip left-handed owing to his horse lugging in — while also yanking on his right rein, also trying to prevent the lug in — and his whip briefly got tangled in reins on Forever Young. Regardless inquiry warranted.” 

Sierra Leone considered the costliest colt in the 20-horse field, was priced at $2.3 million. The accusations stemmed from an unexpected surge in Gaffalione’s horse’s performance in the final stretch of the race. Chad Brown, trainer of Sierra Leone said, “You get beat a nose in the Kentucky Derby, it’s a tough one”, continuing, “But I’m so proud of the horse.”

Following the race, numerous users took to various platforms to demand the disqualification of Sierra Leone and its jockey, Tyler Gaffalione. The controversy brewed when a head-on replay showed Tyler Gaffalione grabbing the reins of Forever Young just before the line. The act was targeted by many fans, mainly as Sierra Leone was lying in on Forever Young for the entirety of the strait, but the Japanese visitors elected not to lodge a second-versus-third protest. 

Did the winner truly deserve victory, or were others robbed of their chance?

Sierra Leone, a 3-year-old colt, raced from 2023-2024 and was trained by Chad C. Brown. He is sired by Gun Runner out of the Malibu Moon mare Heavenly Love. The recent controversy led the fans to discuss and inquire about the match. Several social media users consider Sierra Leone’s winning second is not much deserved, as they think Forever Young who claimed third should have been well deserved for the second place.

Sierra Leone’s jockey Tyler Gaffalione bumped Forever Young three times just before finishing the line. A lot of viewers have shown their strong stance on the incident, urging for disqualification and potential penalties for Sierra Leone due to the recognized intrusion that happened during the race. Ultimately, the label of “cheater” remains a contentious topic; this controversy will depend on a thorough investigation by racing authorities.