Cherie DeVaux, the woman who shook the racing world with her victory in the Kentucky Derby

Thanks to the victory of Golden Tempo, she became the first female trainer to win the most important race of the year in the United States

The landscape of horse racing was reshaped this Saturday as Cherie DeVaux etched her name into the history books, becoming the first woman to train a winner of the Kentucky Derby. In the aftermath of a victory that resonated far beyond the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs, the trainer reflected on a journey defined by perseverance, mental fortitude, and an unwavering commitment to the equine athlete.

The achievement marks a full circle for Cherie DeVaux, who arrived at the track more than two decades ago with little more than a dream and a tireless work ethic. “I started my career here 22 years ago as a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed exercise rider. And I would not believe that I would be sitting up here today. Never in my life did I think I would,”she confessed, visibly moved by the magnitude of the moment. Her rise to the pinnacle of the sport was mentored by the late trainer Chuck Simon, to whom she dedicated the triumph. “Chuck, he would be so proud. I am here because of him,” she added.

While the milestone is historic for the industry, Cherie DeVaux has always viewed her professional path through the lens of performance rather than gender. For her, the challenges of the backstretch are universal, demanding a specific type of resilience that she has cultivated over years of labor. “Being a woman or my gender has never really crossed my mind in this journey of mine,” she remarked. “I have to say, the racetrack is a tough place. It’s a tough place if you are a man. It’s a tough place if you’re a woman. The thing that really has become apparent to me is that not everyone has the same constitution as I have mentally.”

Despite her focus on the work itself, she acknowledged the weight of being a trailblazer for future generations of women in the sport. The victory serves as a powerful testament to what is possible through career evolution and persistence. “It really is an honor to be able to be that person for other women or other little girls to look up to. You can dream big, and you can pivot. You can come from one place and make yourself a part of history,” she stated.

Looking ahead to the next Triple Crown jewel, the Preakness Stakes, the trainer remained grounded and entirely focused on the physical condition of her champion. True to the philosophy that has guided her stable to the top, she insisted that the horse will dictate the upcoming schedule. “We’re going to let him decide that,” she said regarding a trip to Pimlico. “We’re going to see how he looks tomorrow, and subsequently, the next couple weeks or, you know, the next couple days. But we’re going to have to allow him to tell us, because the horse is first. We’re not here for ourselves. We’re not here for our egos. We’re here for the horse.”