The buzzer rang, the gates opened, and before the first turn, the horse that would help make history at the Kentucky Derby was coming in dead last—not surprising as Golden Tempo had 23-1 odds to win the iconic race.
The odds seemed about right, as the horse had been battling a heel condition, but Cherie DeVaux was about to make history, becoming the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby.
The horse’s jockey, Jose Ortiz, had never won the race in 10 previous tries. And the horse, Golden Tempo, was starting from the 19th post, way on the outside, making things even more difficult.
Indeed, heading into the final turn of this month’s Kentucky Derby, the horse was still in last place, with 17 other horses to beat.
But then, Golden Tempo began making its kick…
Racing lanes opened as the horse headed into the final stretch. One after another, Ortiz and Golden Tempo passed horses while coming up on the outside.
“What a tremendous kick by Golden Tempo,” NBC announcer Jerry Bailey said on the broadcast. “That’s a lot of ground to make up in the stretch of the Kentucky Derby!”
As the pair raced toward the finish line, the leader was Renegade, the Derby’s betting favorite.
And with DeVaux watching from the rails nearby, the ‘Golden’ thoroughbred won by a nose, while the crowd erupted. (Watch the thrilling moment below…)
“I’m just so, so happy,” DeVaux told NBC. “Jose did a masterful job at getting him there. He was so far out of it, and he had so much faith in this horse….I’m glad I can be representative of women everywhere. We can do anything we set our minds to.”
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DeVaux grew up in New York with a big family that included seven brothers and two sisters, which she credits for her toughness. She spent more than two decades in the horse racing business, working all the way up from an exercise rider. She’s now been a stable owner for eight years.
Before her win at the Derby last Saturday, only one female trainer had ever won a Triple Crown race —Jena Antonucci, at the Belmont Stakes in 2023.
Now, thanks to Golden Tempo’s thrilling underdog victory, DeVaux has also made history.
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“It really is an honor to be able to be that person for other women or other little girls to look up to,” DeVaux told the Associated Press. “You can dream big, and you can pivot. You can come from one place and make yourself a part of history.”
WATCH the interview from the winner’s circle below…
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