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Great White Flips, Scratched; Golden Tempo Wins Derby

5/3/2026

Summary

Great White Scratched

Great White was scratched minutes before the 152nd Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2026 after flipping and throwing jockey Alex Achard.
The flip occurred as horses were led to the 6:57 p.m. post at Churchill Downs, with the 1,370-pound gray gelding landing on its back at 22-1 odds.
The scratch cut the field to 18 horses, with Golden Tempo later winning to give trainer Cherie DeVaux a historic victory.

Summary

Puma Scratched

Puma’s late scratch left 19 starters in the Derby, missing the 9 a.m. Friday deadline and preventing any also-eligible horse, such as Corona de Oro, from replacing it.
Co-owner Michael Iavarone denied that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce owned a stake, citing a nondisclosure agreement.
The colt, by Essential Quality, had earned $442,280 and accumulated 106 Road-to-Derby points.
Betting odds slid from 10-1 to 8-1, shifting interest toward So Happy and Commandment.

History

Historical Context

The 1973 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, won by Secretariat for Calumet Farm by 2½ lengths in a record 1:59, attracted a then-record 134,476 fans and $7.6 million in wagers, underscoring the race’s high stakes. Decades later, the 2026 Derby’s last-minute scratches of Great White and Puma echo earlier disruptions, prompting tighter entry rules and closer ownership scrutiny.

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Great White Scratched

Great White was scratched minutes before the 152nd Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2026 after flipping and throwing jockey Alex Achard.
The flip occurred as horses were led to the 6:57 p.m. post at Churchill Downs, with the 1,370-pound gray gelding landing on its back at 22-1 odds.
The scratch cut the field to 18 horses, with Golden Tempo later winning to give trainer Cherie DeVaux a historic victory.

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