SouthernWorldwide.com – Cherie DeVaux made history this past weekend as the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner. Her horse, Golden Tempo, secured a dramatic come-from-behind victory at the prestigious Run for the Roses.
DeVaux expressed her feelings about this groundbreaking achievement, stating, “I’ve always just said I’m a horse trainer that happens to be female.” She shared this sentiment with CBS News on Monday.
Historically, only 17 other women have had horses compete in the Kentucky Derby, with the most recent participation in 2021. DeVaux’s triumph now marks a significant milestone, and she hopes it will inspire more women to enter the sport.
“It’s an honor, honestly, to just be that person that other women, young girls can look up to,” DeVaux remarked. She noted the underrepresentation of women in horse racing and expressed a desire for this to change.
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DeVaux’s journey to the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs was not a direct one. Initially, she pursued a pre-med path in college, with aspirations of becoming a physical therapist.
“I wanted to have a life that afforded horses ’cause they’re not cheap,” DeVaux explained, highlighting her lifelong passion for horses.
She has been riding horses her entire life, and her career eventually evolved into exercising and training them.
“This kind of just happened, this wasn’t a linear journey,” she reflected on her career path.
DeVaux transitioned to training horses independently eight years ago, following her marriage.
“The first three years were really slow to get started, kind of like Golden Tempo,” she said, drawing a parallel to her horse’s performance in the Derby, where it was in last place early on before a strong finish.
With the Preakness Stakes, the next leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, scheduled for May 16, DeVaux stated that the decision for Golden Tempo to participate rests solely with the horse.
“It’s up to him,” she concluded.
