Greetings, Fellow Horsemen,
While witnessing the scratch of Great White behind the gate during post time of the running of the 2026 Kentucky Derby, I vehemently disagreed with the decision to scratch him!
I was greatly appalled, heartbroken and stricken with grief for our beloved sport!
I mourn over your loss! The whole team of Three Chimneys Farm has been deprived of being able to reap the rewards of its work: the stall muckers, the grounds keepers, assistants, foremen, secretaries, investors (and all of the little people who nobody’s ever heard of whom keep the Operation running smoothly,) the efforts of Thoroughbred Conditioner John Ennis and of Journeyman Jockey Alex Achard.
‘Tis a Great Loss to Three Chimneys Farm!
‘Tis a Greater Loss to Horseracing!
‘Tis an unaccountable Void in History’s Great Record Book!
The decision to scratch Great White pierced the thin veil of truth and integrity which protects the Sport of Horseracing!
Question:
What part of Great White’s body did the Vetrinarian claim there was not enough time to evaluate at that moment in time? His head? An ankle? Which part?
The acting Vetrinarian acted on “after the fact, just in case” instead of on “during the fact, the facts are the case”. Dr. William E. Farmer is contracted to protect the interests of Churchill Downs Incorporated, not the interests of the horses or of the horsemen et al.
The Sport of Kings is the sport of champions- a thoroughbred competition showcasing the unity between horse and man.
To have such natural competition rendered lame as the result of non-horseman-like, bureaucratic interference such as the disqualification of Great White from the 2026 Kentucky Derby is a measure of incompetence which compels critical observation!
The decision to scratch Great White was the wrong decision. Horses suffer harder falls while playing out in the field! It was as natural as your teenager falling down during a soccer game!
Jerry Bailey said during the minor incident, “I’m sure the horse is shook a little bit, but it didn’t appear like he thumped his head on anything…”
Here is the live-shot video of the incident:
The decision to scratch Great White has deprived the world of a possible Triple Crown Trail, deprived the workers of Three Chimneys Farm of enjoying their hard work coming to fruition; and has deprived our grandchildren of those tender morsels of history- so rich that only dreams can make-up the ingredients!
Scratching Great White from the Derby is a new black eye inflicted upon the face of an already beaten-down industry! Horseracing has genuflected to the fascism of bureaucratic red tape in the guise of “safety” so rapidly that we are now beyond the point of moderate reform within our industry. Authoritative and decisive horsemanship has been systematically replaced by bureaucratic authoritarianism, rendering our lifestyle no longer a business of sport, but only acquiescence to parties whose interests damage the integrity of our sport and are against the interests of our own, Fellow Horsemen and against our loved ones’!
The industry needs to take a closer, in-house audit of itself! Our grandchildren will grip only the reigns we hand them, not the reigns we intend to hand them.
With Equestrian Regards;
Christopher Van Hassel
Equine Safety Advocate
Gentleman Journeyman Jockey; 115 LBS. (retired)
Lonesome Glory Publications.
-Ride Tight.
