“Sorry to Hear”: Hours Before Kentucky Derby 2023, Saddening Update Jolts Millions of Fans

In a few hours, the Kentucky Derby of 2023 will take place. The odds-on favorite Forte has been turning heads over the last month, winning several grade 1 stakes races and increasing the pressure on the rest of the field. Due to his superior qualities, Forte is widely expected to win the most prestigious horse race in history. The pre-race favorite horse was eliminated from the Derby due to an incident that occurred during training this morning.

The equestrian community caught wind of this quickly when the Thoroughbred Daily News shared it on their Facebook page. Many people saw the message because they were upset that their pre-race favorite couldn’t compete in the Run for the Roses.

The incident that took out the Kentucky Derby favorite

The morning jog was part of the preparation for the afternoon’s Derby by the pre-race favorite. Trainer Todd Pletcher and co-owner Mike Repole noticed something was wrong with the horse after the workout. They voiced their worry about the horse’s ability to race safely due to an injury on its right front foot. Just after the concern was raised, the pre-race favorite’s foot was examined further, and he was disqualified.

ALSO READ – Days After Kentucky Derby Favorite’s Famous Disqualification, His Owner Offered $20,000,000 to Rivals Once

In addition to Practical Move, Lord Miles, Continaur, and Skinner, Forte has been pulled from the forthcoming 149th Run of the Roses. In 1936, out of a total of 19 horses entered for the event, only 14 actually competed. Irad Ortiz Jr., who was supposed to ride pre-race favorite Forte, will instead ride Cyclone Mischief as the pre-race favorite was scratched. The Kentucky Derby field of 18 horses will break from the first through the eighteenth stalls of the starting gate. Both positions 19 and 20 will remain unfilled.

A big upset for the equestrian fans

The news that Forte had been disqualified from the Kentucky Derby spread like wildfire across the globe. There were a lot of people waiting for the pre-race favorite to win the Derby who rushed the comment area as soon as the post went live on Thoroughbred Daily News.

Apart from the heat that the community is in, some fans are also sad to see such a situation, as one comment read, “Sorry to hear this.” It looks like there is suspicion regarding the track, as one comment read, “This is toooo many coincidences what’s wrong with the track.”

A lot of fans are also angry at the venue, as one comment read, “5 injured horses at CD, So when is Churchill Downs going to suspend it’s self??” Some fans have already accepted the termination of Forte; as one comment read, “Better to be safe than sorry! Sure was looking forward to seeing him run.”

WATCH THIS STORY – Startling Details Behind the Kentucky Derby Gold Trophy Unraveled

The shocking result must have been caused by Forte’s disqualification from the race. While some were anticipating the underdogs, suddenly all attention would be on the new second favorite, Tapit Trice.