Drivers along U.S. Route 1 in North Laurel were given quite a start Friday morning when they encountered a riderless racehorse heading south along the highway.

According to Laurel Park officials, Bullet Catcher—a 4-year-old gelding—escaped from the thoroughbred racing facility around 9 a.m.

Moments earlier, the horse had tossed jockey Jeremy Rose as the pair was heading back to the stables at the end of a morning workout, track authorities said.

Bullet Catcher then exited through a gate, wandered down Whiskey Bottom Road, and headed south down Route 1.

Jockey Abel Castellano, who trailed the horse in a truck, captured part of his journey in a cell phone video.

"I had finished working a horse and was coming to the jocks room when I saw a horse run by heading out of the stable gate,” Castellano said in a statement. "I decided to follow the horse and maybe when he stopped I could catch him."

After a 1.6-mile trek that took Bullet Catcher through parts Anne Arundel, Prince George's, and Howard counties, authorities and track personnel were eventually able to corral the horse outside of Fred Frederick Chrysler-Plymouth.

"When we finally caught him we were able to bring him back to the track in my van," trainer Charles “Snake” Frock said in a statement. 

Bullet Catcher reportedly suffered abrasions to his feet as a result of the run.

"It’s unreal the horse galloped out the gate and all the way to Main Street on the blacktop and never shredded a shoe," Frock added. "God was on his side.”

Did you see any of Bullet Catcher's wild ride? Let us know in the comments.