60-Year-Old Jockey will miss Kentucky Derby Debut

Ken Tohill spent 44 years riding horses, accumulating 4,100 wins in over 31,000 starts. Finally at age 60, he was preparing for the ride of a lifetime at the Kentucky Derby. Unfortunately, his 3-year-old will not be able to make it to the starting gate.

Churchill Downs announced Thursday morning that Wild On Ice will miss Kentucky Derby 149 after suffering a left hind leg injury during morning workouts beneath the Twin Spires. He was transported to a Lexington equine surgical facility, according to Mike Welsch of Daily Racing Forum.

Wild On Ice is the second horse to withdraw from the field this week. John Shirreffs’ Skinner is now set to start in the Kentucky Derby. Sired by Curlin, Skinner finished third in the San Felipe Stakes and Santa Anita Derby.

UPDATE (11:00 am): Wild On Ice suffered catastrophic injuries during this morning’s workout. According to Felix Chavez, the horse was euthanized following Thursday morning’s accident. The tragedy shines a light on the worst side of the sport.

Ken Tohill’s Surprising Kentucky Derby Debut Comes Up Short

Wild On Ice was a surprise entry into the Kentucky Derby. The gelding had not won as a 3-year-old when he pulled off an upset victory as a 35-to-1 long shot in the Sunland Derby. According to Equibase’s database that goes back to 2001, it was Tohill’s first ever graded stakes victory. He blames a hard life of drinking for putting him behind the 8-ball in the industry.

“I was a coward and drank way too much. I didn’t have any confidence in myself,” he told Horse Racing Nation. “I had thrown half of (my career) away and never expected to get the gifts I got in the last 20 years. It’s been more than most people get in a lifetime.”

Primarily riding at lower-tier tracks in New Mexico, Iowa and Nebraska, he made up for lost time. An appearance in the Kentucky Derby was the ultimate prize for decades of grinding in a difficult industry. At 60-years-old, he was going to make his debut as the oldest jockey to ever ride in the storied race, surpassing Jon Court’s ride aboard Long Range Toddy as a 58-year-old in 2019.

Instead, an injury has moved Ken Tohill to the sidelines beneath the Twin Spires. Horse racing is not for the faint of heart.