After training the first female Kentucky Derby winner, Cherie DeVaux says she hopes her milestone opens doors for more women in racing.
A historic Kentucky Derby win is prompting a renewed spotlight on who gets to lead in America’s most storied horse racing scenes.. Cherie DeVaux. the trainer behind Golden Tempo’s come-from-behind victory at Churchill Downs. became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner. a milestone she says should help young girls see themselves in the sport.
DeVaux reflected on the moment after the race. emphasizing that she sees herself first and foremost as a horse trainer who happens to be a woman.. She noted that women remain underrepresented in the industry and said she hopes her win can serve as visible proof that success is possible in a field that has long been dominated by men.
This matters not just for symbolism, but for pipelines. When more people can picture themselves in a role, industries often see gradual changes in who gets trained, hired, and supported.
Her path to the winner’s circle was not immediate, and she described a career that shifted over time.. In college. DeVaux studied pre-med with the goal of becoming a physical therapist. while her lifelong relationship with horses eventually steered her toward working with them more directly through training and exercising.
DeVaux said she made the decision to pursue training on her own about eight years ago after meeting her husband. and she described the early years as slow to take hold.. She also pointed to the colt’s own developing trajectory during the Derby itself. drawing a parallel between Golden Tempo’s early struggles and the long work it took to get there.
For many people in competitive sports, that kind of winding route is the rule rather than the exception. It underscores how persistence, resources, and experience often build quietly before a breakthrough moment arrives.
As the next major test approaches, DeVaux is looking ahead to the Preakness. The Derby winner’s trainer said that the decision on whether Golden Tempo will run next ultimately rests with the horse.
DeVaux’s win, meanwhile, is already challenging the sport’s narrative about who can rise to the top. If her achievement sparks more interest and opportunity for women, the Kentucky Derby may come to represent more than tradition, but a turning point for participation.
In the end, milestones like this can reverberate far beyond a single race. They can help reshape expectations across barns, stables, and training tracks for years to come.