Why Kentucky Derby is down to 19 horses after disappointing news for The Puma

There isn't a worse time to get this news.

The Puma has been scratched from the 2026 Kentucky Derby.

The news came out Saturday morning, less than 12 hours before the race.

"We discovered some swelling in his leg due to a skin infection," his trainers announced. "It's incredibly disappointing but the swelling should go down within a day or two. It's just really bad timing."

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It also leaves the Derby one horse short.

MORE: Secretariat's family tree includes 663 kids and 19 horses in this Derby

Why does the Kentucky Derby not have 20 horses?

The Puma's scratch came too late to add an alternate.

There had already been three scratches earlier in the week, and each of those had been replaced, so the field had remained at its maximum 20 before The Puma was scratched.

Now, though, this news sets the field up to be 19 horses, assuming no other late and unfortunate developments.

More Kentucky Derby news:

• Inside Secretariat's record $6 million fee
• This 20-year old jockey is the son of Smarty Jones' rider
• Renegade's pedigree helps explain why he's a Derby favorite
• What to know about replacement horse Great White
• Ocelli is a descendant of Curlin