The GIST: A horse named Golden Tempo defied the 23-1 odds during the 152nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday, surging from last-place to win the Run for the Roses. With the victory, Cherie DeVaux became the first woman horse trainer to ever win the famed race — and her story is a true tale of groundbreaking grit.
❓ What does a horse trainer do?: Much like an athletic trainer, a racehorse trainer is responsible for the animal’s conditioning, including exercise, diet, and race prep, as well as coaching the jockey on how to best lead the horse. Horse racing is a historically male-dominated (and notably ethically dubious) sport.
🏇 From med school to the stables: DeVaux, who grew up around horses in Saratoga Springs, NY, was questioning her path as a pre-med student when she started working in a stable, initially just walking the animals. She worked her way up, eventually pursued her training license, and won her first race in 2019, notching nearly 300 wins (and earning more than $32M) since.
- Saturday was DeVaux’s first start at the Kentucky Derby, adding to the magic of her triumph.
- Afterwards, she said, “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 or you can pivot. You can come from one place, and you can make yourself a part of history.” Now that’s trailblazing.
⏩ What’s next: The Kentucky Derby is the first of three races in the vaunted Triple Crown. The Preakness is next on May 16th, but DeVaux isn’t sure if Golden Tempo will compete, saying the decision is “up to the horse” and dependent on his health. Stay tuned.