Here follow some facts and opinions regarding the controversial double-disqualification in the 12th race Friday at Churchill Downs. You may want to watch the replays (pan and head-on) of the race in question before further proceeding.

FACT: Following a three-way battle down the stretch, PRESIDENTIAL TWEET (8) was DQ’d from 1st and NEW COLUSSUS (7) was DQ’d from 2nd after the CD stewards judged they both had impeded LASER LOOP (9), who had finished third and thereby was awarded the win.

FACT: Instead of the Single 6 jackpot of $317,738 being paid out to one would-be winner who ended his/her ticket with Presidential Tweet, there was no winning ticket ending with Laser Loop, and the jackpot of that same amount now carries over to Saturday. If no single winning ticket hits Saturday, then a massive handle of perhaps $1 million or so will result Sunday, the final day of the meet, when the Single 6 is subject to a mandatory disbursement.

OPINION: It was a no-brainer for the stewards to disqualify New Colussus, who initiated contact with Laser Loop when veering in sharply, but the decision to disqualify Presidential Tweet … nah, not so much. I could belabor numerous reasons why I believe the horse should not have been disqualified – basically, I thought the call was extremely marginal and ticky-tack and unfairly penalizes everyone involved with Presidential Tweet – but it’s an opinion that counts for nothing.

FACT: The double-DQ clearly benefits Churchill Downs in terms of potential increased handle and interest as the Single 6 lives on.

OPINION: The 3 stewards representing the Ky. Horse Racing Commission (Barbara Borden and Butch Becraft) and Churchill (Tyler Picklesimer) are individuals of the highest character and integrity. I’ve known them all at least 20 years and would bet my life they were oblivious to the side effects of their decision. Any inference by anyone that the Single 6 had anything to do with their call is flat-out wrong.

FACT: The convergence of jackpot wagers such as the Single 6 with stewards’ decisions makes for an inherent conflict of interest that shakes the public’s confidence in the game. A similar occurrence at Gulfstream Park in February 2014 led to a disqualification of a horse named Collinito that resulted in a bettor losing what would have been a payout of more than $1.6 million. Predictably, there was public outrage at that decision, whether or not the DQ was warranted, just as there was public outrage following the Friday call at CD.

FACT: Everyone has an opinion.