Who is Cherie DeVaux, the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby?
Al Jazeera • • sports
Key Points:
- Golden Tempo, with 24-1 odds, won the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, making Cherie DeVaux the first female trainer to win the prestigious race in its 152-year history.
- The horse, ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, came from behind in a field of 18 to win by a neck, with Renegade and Ocelli finishing second and third respectively.
- Cherie DeVaux, 44, from Saratoga Springs, New York, began training independently in 2018 and has since achieved over 300 victories, including 21 wins in 2026 before the Derby.
- DeVaux expressed pride in being a role model for women and girls, emphasizing the importance of dreaming big and breaking barriers in horse racing and beyond.
- She credited her family background, especially her husband’s encouragement, for her perseverance and success, reflecting on her journey from exercise rider to historic Derby-winning trainer.
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