Underdog Golden Tempo won the 152nd [1] Kentucky Derby on Saturday, marking a historic comeback at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky [2].
The victory is a landmark moment for the sport because it represents the first win for a female trainer in the history of the race [2]. Trainer Cherie DeVaux [3] led the horse to the finish line, breaking a long-standing gender barrier in one of the most prestigious events in horse racing.
Larry Collmus, the voice of the Kentucky Derby, provided the television call for the event [1]. The race featured a dramatic shift in momentum as Golden Tempo overcame long odds to secure the win [1]. The event took place during the 2026 [2] racing season, drawing global attention to the performance of the underdog horse.
Churchill Downs has hosted the race for generations, but the 152nd [1] running provided a unique narrative through DeVaux's achievement. The victory for Golden Tempo was not merely a sporting upset but a shift in the historical record of the Derby [2].
Observers noted the intensity of the final stretch where Golden Tempo surged ahead. The call by Collmus captured the scale of the comeback as the horse crossed the finish line to secure the title [1]. The win establishes a new precedent for trainers at the highest level of the sport [3].
“The first win for a female trainer in the history of the race.”
The victory of Cherie DeVaux signifies a major shift in the professional landscape of Thoroughbred racing. By becoming the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, DeVaux has dismantled a significant glass ceiling in a traditionally male-dominated sphere, potentially opening doors for more women to lead top-tier stables in major stakes races.
