Kentucky Derby 2017: What happened to Thunder Snow?

May 4, 2017; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Derby entrant Thunder Snow exercises during morning workouts at Churchill Downs. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2017; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Derby entrant Thunder Snow exercises during morning workouts at Churchill Downs. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /
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What exactly caused Thunder Snow to pull up at the beginning of the 143rd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday?

Always Dreaming stole the show with a great performance at the 143rd Kentucky Derby on Saturday. The horse raced to a win and will now embark on a path toward the rare feat of trying to win the Triple Crown. While it was a sloppy day on the track and all the horses had to endure it, Thunder Snow wanted no part of it.

As soon as the horses started down the track, Thunder Snow immediately pulled up and began bucking on the track. Whether it was the sloppy track conditions or something else, the horse wanted no part in competing in the Kentucky Derby.

It led to plenty of concern about whether or not the horse was okay. With the broadcast staying on the race, it wasn’t until after that the status of Thunder Snow was learned. The on-call vet at the derby, Keith Latson, let reporters know that the horse is fine.

That’s certainly the biggest news here, as any type of injury on a track with a horse is very serious. It was clear from the beginning that something was wrong, as Thunder Snow just simply did not want to go and began acting erratically.

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Perhaps the horse wasn’t used to the rain and muddy conditions that the track presented, but it certainly caught everyone’s eye. Thunder Snow did not finish the race but it was not a result of a health issue.