Great White Scratched from 2026 Kentucky Derby Following Pre-Race Incident
Great White Kentucky derby 2026 horse video: What happened to Great White? Why did Great White scratch?
The Economic Times
Image: The Economic Times
Great White, a prominent contender for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, was scratched just minutes before the race after flipping and throwing his jockey, Alex Achard. Trainer John Ennis confirmed the horse is doing well post-incident, while Golden Tempo made history by winning the Derby under trainer Cherie DeVaux.
- 01Great White was scratched from the Kentucky Derby after flipping and throwing his jockey.
- 02Trainer John Ennis confirmed the horse is in good condition post-incident.
- 03Golden Tempo won the Derby, marking Cherie DeVaux as the first female trainer to achieve this feat.
- 04Great White had only entered the Derby field days prior due to another horse's injury.
- 05The incident occurred while the horses were waiting to enter the starting gate.
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Great White, a 1,370-pound gelding, was scratched from the 2026 Kentucky Derby just minutes before the race after flipping and throwing his jockey, Alex Achard. Trainer John Ennis reported that Great White is in good condition following the incident, stating, "He's perfect. Very fresh. (The incident) took nothing out of him." The horse had only qualified for the Derby a few days earlier when another competitor, Silent Tactic, was ruled out due to a foot injury. Meanwhile, Golden Tempo won the Derby, making Cherie DeVaux the first woman to train a Derby champion, finishing ahead of Renegade in second and Ocelli in third. The incident with Great White occurred while the horses were waiting to enter the starting gate, leading track veterinarians to make the decision to scratch him from the race.
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The incident highlights the unpredictability of horse racing and the importance of safety protocols for both horses and jockeys.
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