The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2026, delivered a weekend of history, high drama, and record-breaking moments that will be talked about for years to come. With a crowd buzzing from bourbon flights and celebrity sightings, the real stars emerged on the track: Golden Tempo, jockey Jose Ortiz, and trailblazing trainer Cherie DeVaux. Together, they turned the Run for the Roses into a showcase of resilience, skill, and firsts for the sport of horse racing.
The Derby weekend festivities kicked off in style, as visitors arriving at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport were greeted with their first taste of Kentucky’s signature bourbon. The city, already steeped in history, comes alive during Derby time, with vibrant nightlife, fashion pop-ups, and a palpable sense of anticipation. Inside the exclusive Club SI Suite & Enclosure at Churchill Downs, guests mingled among racing relics, jockey silks, and a who’s who of celebrities, all eager to witness the next chapter in Derby lore.
On May 1, the Kentucky Oaks set the tone for the weekend. The legendary race for three-year-old fillies made history with its first-ever nighttime post time at 8:40 p.m. ET. Always a Runner, guided by Jose Ortiz for trainer Chad Brown and owners Three Chimneys Farm and Douglas Scharbauer, blazed to victory in just her third career start. She finished the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:48.82, winning by 1 1/4 lengths at odds of 5-1 and remaining unbeaten. According to Ortiz, “She broke really good. She was able to fall behind Meaning, which me and Chad talked about (as) one of the possibilities, that she was a very nice filly to follow. And the plan went like we thought it was going to go. Rarely that happens. We were very happy that it happened in a race like this.”
The Oaks win was just the beginning for Ortiz. The next day, he climbed aboard Golden Tempo, a Curlin colt trained by Cherie DeVaux, in the Kentucky Derby. DeVaux, a Little League alum from Englewood Area (Fla.) LL, was making her Derby debut, and what a debut it turned out to be. Golden Tempo, who had finished third in both the Risen Star Stakes and Louisiana Derby, started the race at the back of the pack. But Ortiz, showing the calm and confidence that come with experience, waited until the stretch to unleash his mount’s closing kick.
In a breathtaking finish, Golden Tempo surged past 17 rivals, holding off a late charge from Renegade—ridden by none other than Ortiz’s older brother, Irad Ortiz Jr.—to win by a neck. The Ortiz brothers, both graduates of La Gloria LL in San Juan, Puerto Rico, delivered a family moment for the ages as their parents cheered from the stands. “It feels great,” Jose Ortiz said after the race. “Unbelievable weekend. It's the result of all the hard work I put in for the last 15 years. I'm just very happy I get to win this race.”
Golden Tempo’s victory was historic in more ways than one. Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, shattering a long-standing glass ceiling in the sport. Her journey from the Little League diamond to the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs stands as an inspiration for Girls with Game® and aspiring trainers everywhere. The win, one of the biggest upsets in Derby history, earned Golden Tempo’s connections $3.1 million from the $5 million prize purse, while second-place Renegade took home $1 million. Ocelli finished third, earning $500,000, with Chief Wallabee and Danon Bourbon rounding out the top five.
For Ortiz, the Derby triumph added another jewel to an already glittering career. At 32, he’s now the ninth jockey to sweep the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, joining the likes of Calvin Borel and Brian Hernandez Jr. this century. Ortiz had previously notched Triple Crown victories in the 2017 Belmont Stakes aboard Tapwrit and the 2022 Preakness Stakes on Early Voting. “I'm 32. I'm hitting kind of the prime for a jockey,” Ortiz reflected. “I'm young still, but I'm very experienced. I'm calm. I trust my horses. The part of remaining calm is to have the confidence for the trainers I ride for, who believe in me, trust me, trust my judgment, and let me ride the horses the way I want to ride my horses.”
The 2026 Derby wasn’t just a triumph for the athletes and trainers—it was a record-breaking event for fans as well. NBC’s coverage averaged 19.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched Kentucky Derby ever. The telecast peaked at 24.4 million viewers between 7:00 and 7:15 p.m., right as Golden Tempo stormed home for the win. The Kentucky Oaks, too, set a new ratings high, drawing 2.4 million viewers for its NBC debut, shattering the previous record from 1997.
Off the track, the Derby’s blend of tradition and spectacle was on full display. The event drew a star-studded guest list, including Nicole Scherzinger, Michael Turchin and Lance Bass, Melissa Joan Hart, Camille Kostek, Rob Gronkowski, Gina Torres, Tanya Trotter and Michael Trotter Jr., and the legendary Chaka Khan. Fashion was as fierce as the racing, with celebrities donning everything from polka dot midi dresses to pastel suits and bespoke fascinators.
The Derby also offered a chance to reflect on the sport’s deep roots in African American history. In 1875, Black jockeys dominated the inaugural Derby, with Oliver Lewis winning aboard Aristide and 13 of the 15 riders that day being African American. Though their presence later waned due to discrimination, the legacy of Black horsemen remains foundational to the races. Modern Louisville honors this heritage through civil rights landmarks and the Roots 101 African American Museum, ensuring that the city’s layered past is never forgotten.
The festivities weren’t confined to Churchill Downs. Revelers enjoyed SI’s Revel At The Races With Tiesto at the Ice House, where music and merriment mingled with the anticipation of race day. In the Club SI Suite, Mint Juleps flowed and lucky Verizon Access guests enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime Derby experience, blending luxury with the thrill of the sport.
With Golden Tempo’s victory, all eyes now turn to the possibility of a Triple Crown bid at the Preakness Stakes on May 16. DeVaux and her team have yet to announce their decision, keeping fans and pundits guessing. Will Golden Tempo continue his Cinderella story, or will another contender seize the spotlight in Baltimore?
As the sun set on Derby weekend, the echoes of hooves and history lingered over Louisville. For Jose Ortiz, Cherie DeVaux, and all who witnessed the spectacle, the 2026 Kentucky Derby proved that greatness can come from anywhere—and that sometimes, the real winners are those bold enough to chase their dreams, no matter the odds.