There was a bizarre sight for the entire Preakness Stakes on Saturday after horse Bodexpress went the entire length of the race without a jockey.
The announcers covering the race for NBC noted immediately that one horse was racing without a jockey, creating an odd visual on the track:
WE GOT A MAVERICK pic.twitter.com/F5PFaHXwx1
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) May 18, 2019
Replays showed that Bodexpress, running out of the ninth slot, reared back at the start, dropping jockey John Velazquez.
CROOKED AS HELL! pic.twitter.com/Y5AYhMYmgx
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) May 18, 2019
“He was just not behaving good in the gate,” Velazquez told NBC’s Kenny Rice after the race. “He was just not settling well. He caught me against the wall and the gate. When the doors opened, I was kind of up from the start. I kind of jumped sideways and I had my feet out of the irons. I lost my balance and went off.”
Velazquez said he was good but disappointed.
Bodexpress:
• lost his jockey at the start of the race
• kept racing even after the race
• is our Preakness MVP pic.twitter.com/k9OIIpiorh— SB Nation (@SBNation) May 18, 2019
Despite not having a jockey, Bodexpress ran the entire race and was not last to cross the finish line, though the horse had to be pushed towards the pack by an outrider after drifting and was credited with a did not finish result. Bodexpress also ran an extra lap around the track before being corralled.
War of Will ended up the winner of the 144th running of the race.
