Great White Horse Update After Kentucky Derby Scratch Disaster With Jockey
April 27, 2026, Louisville, Kentucky, USA: Great White grazes as horses prepare for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on April 27, 2026. /Eclipse Sportswire /CSM Louisville USA - ZUMAcs17 20260427_faf_cs17_031 Copyright: xTerexPoplinx ©IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire The 152nd Kentucky Derby marked history as Golden Tempo became the first horse trained by a woman, Cherie DeVaux to win. Unfortunately, another history was matched at Churchill Downs as the 2026 race had five scratches, tying the known all-time record, which was set in 1936 and matched in 2023.
The latest casualty was Great White, as the dramatic scene unfolded while horses were being loaded for the 6:57 p. m. post time.
But there is some positive news. “He’s perfect,” trainer John Ennis told The Associated Press after the race . “Very fresh.
(The incident) took nothing out of him. ” The big gray gelding was scratched minutes before the Triple Crown race as he was suddenly spooked while everyone was waiting for the horses to get walked into the starting gate. He is roughly 1,370 pounds and threw off rider Alex Achard, who walked away under his own accord.
The jockey was extremely lucky that the horse didn’t fall on him. The pony handler in red was alert for the fast grab on the reins. A loose horse would’ve been even more of a disaster on this stage.