The 2023 Kentucky Derby post position draw included three horses waiting in the wings as also-eligible entrants. After last year's winner, Rich Strike, was a late entrant to the field at the No. 20 gate, all three could feel some hope of coming away with a win.
When Saturday's race begins, each of those three horses will have a chance to win the Kentucky Derby. Several horses have been scratched from the field as a wave of injuries has thrown this year's race into turmoil, including Saturday's surprise late scratch of Forte, the morning-line favorite listed at 3-1.
This year's field has now seen five horses scratched, leaving two posts empty heading into the race. Only 18 horses remain in the race, the fewest since the pandemic-delayed 2020 Kentucky Derby had just 15.
In addition, five horses leading up to the race in Kentucky have died, leading to an investigation by Churchill Downs.
MORE: What to know of Churchill Downs investigation into horse deaths
Horse racing fans have been surprised about the number of horses that have been removed. Where does it stack up in history? Here's what you need to know.
Kentucky Derby scratches 2023
The 2023 Kentucky Derby has had five horses removed from the field as of Saturday morning, when morning-line favorite Forte was removed following its race day workout.
The spate of scratches has reminded of the 2015 race, when four were scratched, leading to a field of 18.
Back in 2015, Stanford was scratched over the horse's post position in the draw by the trainer, El Kabeir was pulled due to a hoof problem and International Star was removed with a foot problem on the day of the race. Tale of Verve was considered an also-eligible entrant, but the latter two scratches were made after the cutoff time, meaning Tale of Verve was also listed as a scratched horse.
Tim Layden of NBC Sports reported the four cuts from the original field are the most since the 1936 Kentucky Derby.
According to the Kentucky Derby, that year the horses scratched were Banister, Dnieper, Seventh Heaven, Forest Play and Silas. The field wound up being 14 horses.
MORE: Fast facts to know before picking 2023 Kentucky Derby winner
Smallest Kentucky Derby field
Horse racing fans have advocated for some time that the field should be smaller than 20 horses, which is where the race is currently capped. The Run for the Roses has often come in significantly smaller.
The fewest horses to run since 2000 came back in the COVID race of 2020, when fewer horses than usual were able to qualify for the field. A pair of cuts reduced the field even further and only 15 horses left the gate at post time.
But no race has been smaller than the 1892 and 1905 editions of the race. In those years, only three horses raced. In 1892, Azra won out of the second post, Huron won from the third and Phil Dwyer placed third from the first post. In 1905, Agile came out ahead of Ram's Horn and Layson after two horses — Dr. Leggo and McClellan — were scratched.