Golden Temple stunned the crowd at the 152nd Kentucky Derby, rallying from last place to win under jockey Jose Ortiz and emerge as a 23-1 longshot victor. The upset was dramatic — the gray colt surged down the stretch at Churchill Downs and crossed the wire draped in roses — but the evening’s significance extended beyond the racetrack.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to capture a Kentucky Derby title, an achievement met with thunderous cheers from the more than 150,000 spectators. In the winner’s circle, DeVaux and the horse shared a quiet, emotional moment as the magnitude of the accomplishment began to settle in.
DeVaux traced her path to the top to a lifetime around horses and to launching her own training stable eight years ago. She started with no horses and built the operation gradually — from a modest first stable to a larger string built through persistence and hard work. In a sport long dominated by men, she notes that just 17 women had trained Derby starters in the previous 151 years, underscoring how rare her success is.
Asked about the historic nature of the win, DeVaux said she hoped her achievement would show girls and young women what’s possible. She’s already received countless messages from admirers and aspiring trainers who say her victory changed how they see their own opportunities.
Owner Monique Delk, who supported DeVaux from the beginning, praised her influence and predicted the win will inspire others to fall in love with the sport. DeVaux echoed that sentiment, saying she’s grateful, proud and aware that the result reflects years of long hours and relentless effort. For fans and participants alike, Saturday was a landmark moment for racing and for women in the sport.