Kentucky Derby favourite Forte has been pulled out of the showpiece race at Churchill Downs.
Estimates claimed around 16% of money was backed on Forte to win the 149th running of the historic race. But he was scratched on Saturday morning, along with four other horses in the build-up to the race leaving 18 runners remaining after a week which has seen four horses separately die.
Owner Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher were seen in deep discussions with the state racing commission before a decision was made on Forte's fate. The horse was seen taking a jog for the state vet whilst connections watched on before the decision to scratch the favourite was made at around 9am ET. The race is due to begin at 6:45pm ET (2:45pm BST).
Forte's withdrawal is not the first time Repole has faced one of his horses being scratched from the biggest race on the calendar. In 2011, another of his horses, two-year-old champion Uncle Mo, had to be scratched the day before the race after coming down with a gastrointestinal infection.
“I’m 0 for 7 in the Derby,” Repole said earlier in the week. “The pressure of having a horse like this is tough. We all hope and pray and dream that we can get here. When you do, what happens in the days before the race can be scary. He can get sick or hurt or step on something. You just want to get to the gate.”
Rumours swirled regarding Forte after a stumble during Thursday's gallop was caught on camera, and there were rumours of the colt being unwell. But trainer Todd Pletcher dismissed those rumours on Friday
“He’s shown up and run well every start of his life, and I wouldn’t expect no different from him,” Pletcher said of Forte.
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Churchill Downs has faced a tumultuous week, with four horses separately dying in the run-up to the race. The track called the deaths "unusual and unacceptable".
Wild on Ice suffered a fatal leg injury days before the Kentucky Derby having been entered for the big race, then two horses died on the same race card on Tuesday after collapsing - Take Charge Briana and Chasing Artie.
On Saturday, Parents Pride was also euthanised after suffering a leg injury. Churchill Downs has ordered full necropsis of the deceased horses and released a statement on the incidents.
"We take this very seriously and acknowledge that these troubling incidents are alarming and must be addressed," the statement read.
"We feel a tremendous responsibility to our fans, the participants in our sport and the entire industry to be a leader in safety and continue to make significant investments to eliminate risk to our athletes."
