Cherie DeVaux becomes first female trainer to win Kentucky Derby with Golden Tempo
Golden Tempo, trained by Cherie DeVaux, won the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. DeVaux, 44, from Saratoga Springs, New York, became the first woman to train a Derby winner after 151 previous editions were won by male trainers.[1][2][3]
The race, contested over 1-1/4 miles on dirt, drew a field of horses with Golden Tempo listed at 23-1 odds and ridden by jockey Jose L. Ortiz. The horse, a deep closer, surged late to secure the victory, the first leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series.[1][3][4]
DeVaux said Golden Tempo will skip the May 16, 2026, Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, ending the Triple Crown bid to focus on the horse’s long-term health.[3]
In an interview with Fox News Digital about 10 days after the race, DeVaux said she never centered her gender in her professional identity. “I have never made a stand that my gender was part of my identity as a trainer. I am a horse trainer,” she said.[3]
“It was the one thing as a female I wanted to do… There are 151 runnings with all men, and then it’s me,” DeVaux added.[3]
DeVaux described the post-win period as overwhelming but positive, with activities beyond stable duties. “When a league wins a championship, they go to Disney World, and we continue to have a lot of horses to train,” she said.[3]
Going into the Derby, DeVaux had confidence in Golden Tempo’s preparation, including a prior strong performance closing at 1-3/16 miles in the Louisiana Derby. She tempered expectations given the field’s size and the race’s difficulty.[3]
Sources
- Churchill Downs Incorporated, “Kentucky Derby”, accessed October 2024, https://www.kentuckyderby.com/
- Wikipedia contributors, “List of Kentucky Derby winners”, accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Kentucky_Derby_winners
- Fox News Digital, “Cherie DeVaux talks to Fox News Digital about Golden Tempo winning the Kentucky Derby”, circa May 10, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports
- The Blood-Horse, “Cherie DeVaux”, accessed October 2024, https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/thoroughbred-trainers/cherie-dev aux-43788
