Great White Kentucky derby 2026 horse video: What happened to Great White? Why did Great White scratch?

Great White is doing well after flipping before the Kentucky Derby, throwing his jockey and getting scratched minutes before the Triple Crown race, trainer John Ennis said. Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, making Cherie DeVaux the first woman to train the winner of the opening leg of the Triple Crown. The horse charged down the stretch to make history for DeVaux in the 1 1/8-mile race. Renegade was second and long shot Ocelli third.

“He's perfect,” Ennis told The Associated Press after the race, which was won by Golden Tempo to make Cherie DeVaux the first female trainer with a Derby champion. “Very fresh. (The incident) took nothing out of him.”




The big gray gelding who weighs roughly 1,370 pounds was spooked by something while he and the other horses were waiting to get walked into the starting gate for the opening race of the Triple Crown. He threw off rider Alex Achard, who walked away under his own power.

The track veterinarians scratched Great White and prevented Achard and Ennis from entering the Derby for the first time.

Great White only got into the field Wednesday after Silent Tactic was ruled out because of a foot injury.

Great White was a late scratch just minutes before the Kentucky Derby on Saturday after flipping and throwing off Alex Achard while waiting to enter the starting gate.

The big gray gelding only got into the field Wednesday after Silent Tactic was ruled out because of a foot injury. The track veterinarians scratched Great White and prevented Achard and trainer John Ennis from entering the Derby for the first time.

Great White was going to be the biggest horse in the field at roughly 1,370 pounds.