First the Kentucky Derby - now the Preakness - another X Files like day at the track in Triple Crown Racing

A new thoroughbred hero is born

After the most bizarre Kentucky Derby in history where the winner lost and the loser won in the first disqualification in the 145 years of the Run for the Roses, we thought those mischievous Derby devils would leave the Preakness alone.  It was just not to be.

Bodexpress at birth

You see, the last horse to qualify for the Derby was one Bodexpress, and after two horses scratched (dropped out), leaving Bodexpress in the Number 20 position.  He finished Number 13 in the race, a rather ominous omen heading into the Preakness.

Bodexpress, a substitute for Derby

Then the Derby had the near disastrous finish as horses were bumping off each other like bowling pins from a strike as they thundered toward the finish.  In the end Maximum Security, the winner, was disqualified, the first time in history, and Country House, an unknown 45-1 long shot who finished second was named winner.

There was an official inquiry and after more than 20 minutes, the winner was disqualified.  Because the finish is being contested in court, Maximum Security owners decided not to run in the Preakness, a grueling two weeks after the Derby.  Then the eventual Derby winner was disqualified from the Preakness because of a cough.  The top two Derby finishers were not even going to run in the Preakness.

In the Preakness, a new Thoroughbred Hero of the Twitter age suddenly emerged when the 13th place Derby horse, Bodexpress, tossed his rider out of the starting gate as the other horses broke out.  Not considering losing a rider a big deal, the feisty Bodexpress took off anyway and before long was catching up with the main pack heading into the last turn.

The Bodexpress Preakness riderless ride

He might have even caught the leaders but a track rider tried to pull him from the pack and the Bod Master resumed his riderless race across the finish line.  You really must watch the race video, hearing the stunned announcer trying to explain why a riderless horse was in the race.  The photos i this story tell the rest.

With or without a rider that thoroughbred came to race and race he did, not only finishing in the middle of the pack, but went on to make another circle of the entire racetrack before finally being caught by the officials.

In the end, the very horse that was bumped and knocked out of contention in the Derby by Maximum Security, War of Will, would finally get a well deserved Triple Crown trophy.