LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Rich Strike’s trainer, Eric Reed, said his horse was amped up after winning the Kentucky Derby. And that could explain his excitement in the moments following the race where he appeared to bite an outrider.

“He ran down 17 horses in that race,” Reed said. “He got to the front, was galloping out all by himself for the first time in his career, he saw another horse in front of him and I’m sure he thought he was supposed to go by him, too."

Right after Rich Strike won, an outrider, Greg Blasi, tried to slow him down. The video shown during NBC’s coverage of the race showed the horse bit Blasi, and then Blasi struck the horse.

Reed said he doesn’t fault the Blasi for what he did.

“The outrider was trying to protect him, and if he reared up and got the rider loose, it could’ve been catastrophe for everybody,” Reed said. “So that’s a great outrider. I think he’s one of the best in the business, and I know some people don’t understand what went on, but that’s the heat of battle.”

PETA senior vice president Kathy Guillermo said more could have been done.

“It could’ve been avoided by a number of simple things,” she said.

Guillermo said both Blasi and his pony could’ve worn protective gear, and Blasi should’ve let Rich Strike go when it was acting hostile.

“If action needs to be taken against Greg Blasi, that should be done,” Guillermo said. “Transparency is key here: we need to know exactly what happened and why, so I would urge everyone involved to come forward with it and not to just shove this aside or keep it behind closed doors.”

Reed said he’ll work with track officials at his next races to corral Rich Strike safely, but he doesn’t fault Blasi.

“I don’t think I’m qualified to tell the outrider how to do his job; he’s done it everyday when they’re loose and running, and he’s risking his life to catch them,” he said. “And I have ultimate confidence that he knows what he’s supposed to do.”

Messages seeking comment with a representative for Churchill Downs were not returned Monday.