Kentucky Derby 2026: Great White scratched after rolling and throwing jockey minutes before race
Great White was upset soon before the race.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby got started a little later than expected, due to an incident involving horse Great White. Minutes before the race was set to commence, an upset Great White rolled and threw jockey Alex Archard. The horse was quickly scratched, while forcing all the horses to have to be taken out of the gate and reloaded.
The horse, trained by John Ennis and co-owned by Three Chimneys Farm, had been a replacement after Silent Tactic’s scratch on Wednesday due to a sore foot. He was a longshot at 50-to-1 odds on the morning line, and also the largest horse in the field at 1,300 pounds. GREAT WHITE flipped his rider over ahead of the Kentucky Derby and has been scratched from the race.
Unexpected turn of events at Churchill Downs. 🤯 pic. twitter.
com/jzdadDPJd0 — Chris Beasmore (@CBeasmoreSports) May 2, 2026 His scratch left the 21st post empty. Golden Tempo, a 30-to-1 longshot, went on to win the race, making Cherie DeVaux the first female trainer to win the Derby.