So, Cherie DeVaux wins the Kentucky Derby. Big deal, right? For most of us, it’s just another headline, another athlete hitting a pinnacle. But what does this actually mean for the woman herself, beyond the confetti and the prize money? It means identity. It means a life deliberately sculpted, horse by horse, race by race, a path forged through sweat and sacrifice, a path that conspicuously bypasses the societal checkboxes many assume are mandatory.
DeVaux, now the first female trainer to bag the Derby, isn’t just ‘a trainer.’ She’s a force. She was born into the racing world, her parents in harness racing, and she herself rode rodeos as a kid. But thoroughbreds? That was a college detour, a gig as a hot walker that morphed into… well, this. She wasn’t aiming for the stratosphere; she just wanted horses to be part of her life. Turns out, they became her entire life.
The ‘Type A’ Drive: Was it Enough for Business?
This woman’s always been wired differently. Her mom once told her nobody asked her to get straight A’s. DeVaux’s response? Preposterous. Why wouldn’t you push yourself? This wasn’t just about grades; it was about a fundamental belief in maximizing potential. Yet, starting her own horse training business? That gave her pause. She had a solid gig as an assistant trainer, a plum position at a top barn. The horses, the training? Easy. But the business side, the overhead, the risk? That felt like staring into an abyss.
Marriage, Motherhood, and a Business Built on Unpredictability
Then came the husband, the marriage, and the unexpected role of stepmother. Her husband, bless his supportive heart, asked about her aspirations. When she said trainer, he said, ‘Let’s do it.’ So, she quit her stable job on Sunday, launched Cherie DeVaux Racing on Monday, and got married that Friday. Talk about life flipping on its head. From a structured existence to the wild west of entrepreneurship, with a ready-made family to boot. It’s a lot, she admits, but she’s learned to live with being uncomfortable. Who wouldn’t, after that kind of whirlwind?
And here’s the kicker: the millions. Yes, horses she’s trained have racked up over $36 million in prize money. Sounds like a fortune, right? Wrong. DeVaux’s business pockets a commission, and the horse-racing industry is a voracious beast when it comes to expenses. For years, her company was the family’s ‘loss leader,’ with her husband’s horse-breeding business keeping the lights on. She pays herself a salary. A bonus for a big win? Rare. She hasn’t even paid herself a Derby bonus yet, partly because the money’s still trickling in, and partly because, frankly, she’s exhausted.
The Platform and the Path Not Taken
She’s clear: kids weren’t in the cards. That baby at the race? Her nephew. She’s the cool aunt. Her identity is inextricably tied to the track. Five-thirty AM starts are the norm. Vacations? A distant dream, often interrupted by a horse-related crisis back home. She and her husband tried a trip last year. Ended up dealing with an emergency from Florida. Responsible for 120 horses. You can’t just clock out.
What does she want her legacy to be? Not just the first female Derby winner, though that’s a hell of an accomplishment. She wants to leave a positive mark on a sport often mired in negativity. Safety and aftercare for the horses are improving, she notes – leaps and bounds in the last five years. She didn’t aim for this spotlight, but now that she has it, she’s ready to step into it, no regrets, no apologies, just the stark reality of a life lived on her own terms.
Why Does Winning the Derby Matter Off the Track?
The real impact of a win like this, especially for someone like DeVaux, isn’t just the financial uptick (which is still in flux). It’s the validation of a life choice that defied convention. For decades, the narrative for women in high-stakes sports often involved a trade-off: career or family. DeVaux blew that script up. Her identity as a trainer isn’t secondary to anything; it is her life. This win amplifies her voice, giving her a platform to discuss not just racing, but the dedication, the sacrifices, and the often-unseen business realities that fuel elite athletic careers, particularly for women who refuse to be boxed in.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cherie DeVaux do? Cherie DeVaux is a horse trainer who recently became the first woman to win the Kentucky Derby.
Does Cherie DeVaux have children? No, she has stated she never wanted children of her own but enjoys being an aunt.
How much money has Cherie DeVaux earned? Horses she has trained have won over $36 million in prize money, though her business commission is a fraction of that, with significant overhead.
