War of Will’s victory wasn’t the only headline coming out of Saturday’s Preakness (G1). The maiden Bodexpress became an instant celebrity after unseating Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez at the start, eluding capture by the outriders, and running the whole race by himself. Only well afterward was he finally rounded up.
Fans and media outlets alike celebrated his performance, so much so that Bodexpress transcended the purely racing world and captured the wider public’s attention as an avatar of individual freedom. Not only did Bodexpress turn into a Twitter Moment, but he also earned a parody account – “Riderless Horse.”
Bodexpress was the clear MVP of the #Preakness Stakes. https://t.co/sxzwayB30F
— Twitter Moments (@TwitterMoments) May 19, 2019
Bodexpress is hands down our favorite horse: pic.twitter.com/Xy9vVrKBh7
— SB Nation (@SBNation) May 19, 2019
Bodexpress tried to win Preakness without a jockey 😂 pic.twitter.com/lBRbxCORdW
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 18, 2019
The #Preakness was a story about liberation: ‘The horse that ditched his human.’https://t.co/pUkHh5IRH2
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) May 19, 2019
Props to Bodexpress for finishing out the work day even though the boss left to go home early 😂pic.twitter.com/Z2xBhJs8Hi
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 18, 2019
Tremendous @SKIPSCAM capture of Bodexpress rearing as gates flew in @PreaknessStakes, unseating @ljlmvel.. pic.twitter.com/Tf0K4vzjga
— Steve Byk (@Steve_Byk) May 19, 2019
Real talk :
The guy on the gate (9) still had a hand on the reins of #Bodexpress when the gate opened, which caused the horse to go up.Just saying. pic.twitter.com/PETDdfZIyM
— Faisal (@DeepRacing) May 19, 2019
For the reporter who asked me if I had any chance of staying on…
Thank you @ChadBHarmon for the picture pic.twitter.com/MtzXqrcWKA— John Velazquez (@ljlmvel) May 19, 2019
Btw, what’s this “did not finish” stuff? I finished better then some other horses I could name with jockeys! #Preakness #PreaknessStakes
— Riderless Horse (@Riderless_Horse) May 18, 2019
🏇 Jockey Falls off horse but 🐎 Bodexpress Keeps Running and still tries to win Preakness!!! @6abc #Preakness pic.twitter.com/HBk5GeJfpJ
— Jeff Skversky 6abc (@JeffSkversky) May 18, 2019
“Jockey? I don’t need no stinkin jockey.” https://t.co/UXKQpZoiNH
— Capital Gazette (@capgaznews) May 19, 2019
Bodexpress to be honored with ESPY Comeback of the Year.#Preakness
— Charlotte Clymer🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) May 18, 2019
I know he wasn’t carrying the 126 pounds the others were, but…
BODEXPRESS ran a hell of a race going 12 wide into the first turn, then 8 wide into the stretch, beat MARKET KING easily then re-engaged passing ALWAYSMINING late.
This maiden has a cult following now!
— Mike “Slim” Spector (@SaratogaSlim) May 19, 2019
#Bodexpress ran an extra lap because they couldn’t catch him and became America’s horse. #Preakness pic.twitter.com/bWo2Dlg8mM
— J. Elizabeth (@LuvDanceDream) May 18, 2019
War of Will might’ve won the #PreaknessStakes, but Bodexpress stole the show by running the race without a jockey.
Bodexpress was living his best life out there today. pic.twitter.com/jJzQHX7E9n
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) May 18, 2019
Bodexpress is a strong independent horse who don’t need no man #preakness2019
— Ems (@_emelizabeth) May 18, 2019
Live like someone left the gate open!
And you dumped your rider. #Bodexpress pic.twitter.com/E3uBcCSX9n
— LeahBrandon (@Leahbrandon) May 19, 2019
This horse is my current mood and the mood of every teacher this time of year! #BodExpress pic.twitter.com/nnMVIRUlXv
— Susan T Leckie (@MsLeckie_RMHS) May 18, 2019
Outrider: Excuse me sir, let me assist you
Bodexpress: I’m good, thanks pic.twitter.com/oxdRbml7CW— dana byerly (@superterrific) May 19, 2019
Bodexpress taking a victory lap when he didn’t win and still not caring is my inspiration for everything I’m doing from now on. #preakness2019
— Jessica Woods (@biensoul) May 18, 2019
Did anyone actually watch the #Preakness? I could not take my eyes off of #Bodeexpress.
He is the horse we didn’t realize we needed! What a hero!
Him running that race without a jockey and totally free was one of the best things in sports I have seen in a long time. pic.twitter.com/Nxh3ywqYnh
— WBTV Ben Williamson (@benlwilliamson) May 18, 2019
Bodexpress running the entire Preakness by himself just shows that we don’t MAKE these horses do a damn thing they don’t want to.
— Bourbon N Bays (@BourbonNbays) May 18, 2019
The spirit of the horse. Bodexpress evades outrider. #Preakness pic.twitter.com/RBkQlUngYo
— Spa Infield Goose (@SaratogaGoose) May 18, 2019
#Bodexpress is my spirit animal.#PreaknessStakes pic.twitter.com/BbvcxcApkV
— john j. kim (@jkimpictures) May 18, 2019
BREAKING NEWS: Bodexpress just pulled over on I-95N by Maryland State Trooper for speeding. Owner believes he wanted to skip Preakness. Was headed north to enter Belmont Stakes. 🐎🚓
— Jeff Ruby (@TheRealJeffRuby) May 19, 2019
Pundits: Driverless cars are the future.
Bodexpress: Hold my oats.
— Eric Adelson (@eric_adelson) May 18, 2019
This is what I think Bodexpress was thinking. pic.twitter.com/KkMaC9mraK
— John Kramer (@KrameJohn) May 18, 2019
Bodexpress for mayor of Baltimore
— Pat from Hampden 🐙 (@DrRockt0pus) May 18, 2019
In honor of Bodexpress, ignore your bosses and do what you want
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) May 18, 2019
Bodexpress 👏 is 👏 the 👏 hero 👏 we 👏 need 👏 pic.twitter.com/FmQ7SsOLxL
— Mary McGuire (@mcguirereports) May 18, 2019
#bodexpress is my hero. He raced his own race. pic.twitter.com/o3PSylHyhs
— Maggie Kennedy (@maggiekennedy21) May 19, 2019
Google Tests First Autonomous Equine#Preakness #Bodexpress pic.twitter.com/z3dNIaxnPZ
— Jim Camoriano (@jimcmedia) May 19, 2019
I’m officially obsessed with Bodexpress, the jockeyless horse who still managed to beat other horses in the Preakness. pic.twitter.com/ukqF3bfDpA
— Robert Price (@RobertPriceTV) May 18, 2019
There’s nothing I care less about than horse racing—but riderless Bodexpress BEATING a horse with a jockey and NOT finishing last at the Preakness has to be one of my favorite moments in sport in a while. We’re all riderless horses trying to finish strong. https://t.co/UAO1ULNFka
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) May 19, 2019
Bodexpress in the #Preakness #Preakness2019 pic.twitter.com/NKWMRoNUJh
— Drew Da Vinci (@vinci_drew) May 18, 2019
In the history of horse racing I have never cheered harder for a horse than I was cheering for Bodexpress without a jockey
— Gabe DeArmond (@GabeDeArmond) May 18, 2019
Leaked image from tonight’s #GameOfThrones finale … wait how did Bodexpress run all the way to Westeros?? pic.twitter.com/wJAvJ5x7G2
— Mark (@ShamIAmNot) May 19, 2019
“Dracarys!” – Bodexpress, probably#Preakness pic.twitter.com/T4B7yAamfI
— Stadium (@Stadium) May 18, 2019
So grateful that Kaymarie Kreidel, outrider who collared Bodexpress after the @PreaknessStakes was recognized here for a job well done. Impressive catch, Kaymarie!!! https://t.co/gNGISCBErJ
— Donna Brothers (@DonnaBBrothers) May 19, 2019
We definitely need a piece on the #Preakness from The New Yorker now. I’d like to know Bodexpress’s thoughts during the race. 😋
And his real name, too. 😉#PreaknessStakes #Preakness2019 #Preakness144— Valerie (@swannoir27) May 19, 2019
Bodexpress the day after the #Preakness pic.twitter.com/hqxCmBnWjJ
— derbydannyx (@derbydannyx) May 19, 2019
Run free, Bodexpress. #Preakness pic.twitter.com/0cAMYLiJFC
— Justin Warmoth (@JustinWarmoth) May 18, 2019
#Bodexpress has a #LoneRanger moment at the start of the #Preakness raceC’mon now, didn’t we all play hero when we were 3 too?. pic.twitter.com/BCT3M7Pu7V
— Charles Byrne (@ByrneLearning) May 19, 2019
Solid bit. I hope we get to hear from #Bodexpress at 8:40 one morning this week. #Preakness cc: @gordonkeith https://t.co/oDSDzzPW1b
— 1310 Ticket Radio 📻 (@TicketRadio) May 19, 2019
#Bodexpress interviewed after the race: “Always try your best and never give up!” #Preakness pic.twitter.com/fnxxPqqNc6
— Uncle Bill 🌎 (@UBtalkin) May 18, 2019
Final thought tonight – Hope some Preakness viewers today learned that horses love to run, it’s what they do, and have been bred to do, and they do it naturally. Thanks to Bodexpress for imparting the unexpected lesson.
— Pat Cummings (@PatCummingsTIF) May 19, 2019
Legend says Bodexpress is still running. 🤷♂️ #Preakness #Preakness144 🐎pic.twitter.com/NB7wt7ouP7
— Stephen Adams (@StephenWTSP) May 19, 2019
Bodexpress the real champ still out here running. We’re gonna be watching a Ravens game in October and that horse is gonna run out on the field
— J.R. Lind (@jrlind) May 18, 2019
