Cherie DeVaux makes history in Kentucky Derby 2026 with Golden Tempo
· Yahoo Sports
Cherie DeVaux made history as the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby as Golden Tempo bested an 18-horse field in the 152nd Run for the Roses. Afterward, an emotional DeVaux clutched her nephew, Maverick, with tears welling up as she embraced family members on the track.
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"We did it," she exclaimed. "We did it."
The former exercise rider got her start at Churchill Downs 22 years ago under trainer Chuck Simon, who passed away before being able to see her claim the ultimate prize in horse racing. The victory was for him as much as it was for any young girl watching the race who now believes they can follow in her footsteps as a trainer.
DeVaux said earlier in the week that she doesn't center her entire personality around being a female trainer. After all, the hat she sported on the backside during the week of preparation plainly stated, "I'm not for everybody." But she realizes the weight of her accomplishment.
"By doing this, I am inspiring other young women, and that, I am proud of," DeVaux said. "Women —young, old, whatever age — can look up to me and say, 'If she can do it, I can do it.'"
Saturday is what having a wide-open field looks like, and one of the reasons why DeVaux felt she had a chance to win all along.
She said earlier in the week that a deep closer like Golden Tempo would have a chance to win with all the speed in the race despite being more of a "maybe he can win, if ..." type of contender than a true favorite. Things fell the right way against the 18-horse field, just as DeVaux envisioned they could when the decision was made to enter the race and not just for the novelty of participating.
So with all the adjectives in the future that will come to describe his trip in the race, DeVaux is only concerned that "winner" will be attached.
Just getting to the First Saturday in May seemed a bit challenging for this Derby field. Six horses — including Silent Tactic, Right to Party, and Corona de Oro — scratched between the post draw and post time.
Trainer Brad Cox had a third contender in Fulleffort who had to withdraw on Thursday, and trainer Gustavo Delgado, who won the 2023 Derby with Mage, had his colt The Puma scratched on the morning of the race due to swelling in his leg. Great White even scratched as the horses were being led into the starting game.
It marked the sixth Derby in the past eight years to run with fewer than the full 20 horses. (The lowest amount during that stretch came during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when 15 horses ran and the race was moved to September.)
This column will be updated.
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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Cherie DeVaux makes history in Kentucky Derby 2026 with Golden Tempo