John Ennis Says Great White Kentucky Derby Scratch Followed Flip

Great White was scratched from the great white kentucky derby minutes before the race after flipping and throwing jockey Alex Achard. Track veterinarians removed the big gray gelding from the field, ending John Ennis and Achard’s chance to make their first Derby appearance.

Alex Achard Walks Away

Achard walked away under his own power after the incident. Great White had been waiting to be walked into the starting gate when he was spooked by something, flipped and threw his rider.

The horse weighs roughly 1,370 pounds, a size that made the sequence especially abrupt in the packed moments before post time. He was scratched on the spot after the track veterinarians reviewed what happened.

John Ennis On Great White

Ennis said Great White was doing well after the race. “He's perfect,” he said. “Very fresh. (The incident) took nothing out of him.”

That was a small consolation for the connections. The scratch erased a first Derby start for both trainer and jockey, even though Great White had only gotten into the field on Wednesday after Silent Tactic was ruled out because of a foot injury.

Late Derby Field Change

The Derby field changed again only days after Great White’s opening opened the door. Silent Tactic’s foot injury created the opening on Wednesday, but the late scratch put Great White back out of the race before it started and left the entry list one horse shorter at the finish line before the gate opened.