Musings: At Derby, the lady is a champ
Trainer Cherie DeVaux kisses the trophy after Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby on May 2 in Louisville, Ky. Credit: AP / Abbie Parr
The 2026 Kentucky Derby finish had its usual brand of high excitement. Just as the race ended and was made official, though, something equally exciting happened on May 2.
Television cameras captured a woman so overcome with joy it seemed she could hardly breathe. Usually, the network shows the winning horse's owner. This time, it was Golden Tempo's trainer, Cherie DeVaux, who received much of the spotlight.
Although this was the 152nd running of the Derby, a woman trainer never before had the winning mount.
In the early 1950s, my father, Edward Konoski, had a stable of horses that ran in New York, at Belmont and Aqueduct racetracks. In the summer, he would "ship up" the horses to run at Saratoga. In 1953, more than 70 years ago, my father decided to switch trainers. He hired Suzanne Zinser, the first woman to train thoroughbred horses in the New York Racing Association.
DeVaux said after the Derby, "I'm glad I can be a representative of all women everywhere that we can do anything we set our minds to." That's something everyone can bet on!
Robert Konoski, East Setauket
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