Derby Horse Rears and Falls Backwards, Jockey Narrowly Escapes Being Crushed

Clear Facts

• Great White reared up and fell backwards while being loaded into the Kentucky Derby starting gate, throwing jockey Alex Achard
• The 1,300-pound horse landed on its back and nearly rolled onto the jockey before both walked away appearing uninjured
• Great White was immediately scratched from the race, and Golden Tempo went on to win at 30-1 odds

A frightening scene unfolded at Churchill Downs moments before the Kentucky Derby got underway when Great White, ridden by jockey Alex Achard, reared up and fell backwards while being loaded into the starting gate. The incident sent Achard tumbling as the 1,300-pound horse landed on its back and nearly rolled on top of him.

The dramatic moment highlighted the very real dangers jockeys face even before the race begins. Both Achard and Great White appeared to be unharmed after the incident, though the horse was immediately scratched and led away from the gate.

The rest of the field was then loaded without further incident, and the race proceeded as planned. Golden Tempo, who entered the race at 30-1 odds, came away with the victory.

The incident served as a stark reminder of just how massive these animals are and the inherent risks involved in horse racing. Great White was one of the biggest horses in the field, making the near-miss even more dangerous for Achard.

Veterinarians were expected to give Great White a thorough examination following the incident. Achard, too, would likely receive medical evaluation to ensure he escaped without injury from the frightening fall.

While horse racing attracts millions of fans to events like the Kentucky Derby each year, moments like these underscore the athletic courage required of both horse and rider. These are elite athletes performing under tremendous pressure, and sometimes things simply go wrong despite everyone’s best efforts.

The fact that both horse and jockey walked away from such a potentially catastrophic incident was fortunate. With a 1,300-pound animal involved, outcomes could have been far worse.

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