Just minutes before the Kentucky Derby, Great White experienced a dramatic incident that resulted in his scratching from the race, causing significant delays in the event schedule.
This troubling occurrence unfolded when Great White, who had only entered the Derby field after Silent Tactic was ruled out due to a foot injury, became spooked while waiting to enter the starting gate. According to reports, he flipped and fell backwards, almost landing on his jockey, Alex Achard.
Fortunately, Achard walked away from the incident under his own power, and trainer John Ennis later stated that Great White is doing well after the mishap. “He’s perfect. Very fresh. (The incident) took nothing out of him,” Ennis remarked.
The race was subsequently delayed as track veterinarians made the decision to scratch Great White due to safety concerns. Observers noted that once Great White was led away from the gate, the race commenced without further incident.
Key facts about Great White’s incident:
- Great White weighs roughly 1,370 pounds.
- The incident occurred just minutes before the Kentucky Derby.
- Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby with odds of 30-1.
Jose Ortiz, another jockey who witnessed the event, expressed relief that he was not yet mounted when Great White threw Achard. He said, “I wasn’t in there yet, so I was very happy. My guy wanted to put me in. (I said): ‘No, no, no. He’s going to be scratched. Don’t put me in.'” This sentiment reflects a shared concern among jockeys about safety in such high-stakes situations.
The aftermath of this incident raises questions about what comes next for both Great White and his team as they navigate this unexpected setback in their racing season.
