A monumental victory for Golden Tempo at the 2026 Kentucky Derby made Cherie DeVaux the first female victor of the race since the start of the Derby in 1875. On Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 6:57 pm, the Kentucky Derby trainers observed their horses compete for a fraction of the Kentucky Derby purse—which in this case was a record five million. Among those trainers was Cherie DeVaux, who had been instructing the horse Golden Tempo for three years prior to the race. Her victory not only marked a career-defining moment but also flagged the change in opportunities for women in horse racing.

DeVaux’s success in horseracing came long before the Run for the Roses. Before establishing her own stable, DeVaux dedicated years to learning under established trainers and progressively building a trust and reputation in the industry. In eight years she managed over 300 wins, awarding her a sum of 32 million dollars, which earned enough traction for her to be chosen as Golden Tempo’s trainer in 2023. 

Along with this, DeVeaux’s achievement gained attention because Golden Tempo was not widely expected to win. Her unwavering dedication and perseverance is one of the primary reasons for her victory. Carrying through to the Kentucky Derby, her confidence in training and in Golden Tempo’s speed reassured a possible victory. The win resulted in an upset in one of the race’s most memorable finishes in recent years; In the last mile and a quarter, Golden Tempo’s stamina allowed him to pass 17 horses, going from last to first.

Training horses is a male dominated field mainly because of its enriched old networks and long time historical discrimination. As well as this, the high financial stakes attached to elite races push horse owners to favor men; in fact, few women had even participated in the derby’s 152 year history as only 18 had ever started a horse. For many within the sport, Cherie DeVaux’s win did not only represent a personal accomplishment, it marked a historic turning point in one of America’s oldest sports.