Cherie DeVaux

Cherie DeVaux is a thoroughbred horse trainer recognized for becoming the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner. DeVaux comes from a family with a strong background in harness racing, including her father Butch, who worked as a trainer for more than four decades. Initially pursuing pre-med studies in college, DeVaux shifted her focus to horse racing after a summer job walking horses introduced her to the thoroughbred industry. She began her career as a stable worker for trainer Chuck Simon, whose mentorship played a significant role in her development. DeVaux later advanced to assistant trainer under Chad Brown, gaining extensive experience before establishing her own stable.

After obtaining her trainer's license, DeVaux launched her stable with eight horses. She achieved her first win on her 29th start and has since accumulated more than 300 victories from over 1,800 starts. DeVaux built her reputation on the graded stakes circuit, earning her first graded stakes win when Gam's Mission won the Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs. Her profile expanded with Breeders' Cup participation, highlighted by a victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile with More Than Looks. She also trained She Feels Pretty, a multiple Grade 1 winner with victories in the Natalma Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, and E.P. Taylor Stakes.

DeVaux's most notable accomplishment came when she saddled Golden Tempo for the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The colt, ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, overcame a slow start and rallied to win by a neck, marking one of the race's significant upsets. This victory made DeVaux the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner and the first woman trainer to win both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby in the same year. She is only the second female trainer to win a Triple Crown race, following Jena Antonucci's Belmont Stakes win with Arcangelo.

DeVaux has become a prominent advocate for women in horse racing, acknowledging the challenges of the industry while embracing her role as a model for aspiring female trainers. Her journey from pre-med student to Kentucky Derby-winning trainer underscores the importance of adaptability and determination in the thoroughbred racing industry.