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Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg proclaimed May 11 as “Donna Barton Brothers Day” and named DeVaux an “honorary citizen of Louisville” during a May 11 news conference at Metro Hall.
DeVaux made history May 2 as the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby with Golden Tempo. Derby 152 also marked Brothers’ last time covering the longest continuously-held sporting event in America after 26 years.
“It’s a great day to honor two legends, two pioneers in the world of horse racing who just excelled on the world stage this past weekend and have done so much leading up to this weekend,” Greenberg said.
He described Brothers and DeVaux as individuals who have “helped build the sport” and will help “lead it into the next generation.”
Following her mother’s footsteps, Brothers spent 12 years as a jockey before retiring in 1998 as the second-leading female rider in the nation by earnings. Broadcasting came next, an unexpected pivot that required her to stretch beyond her racing roots.
Since then, Brothers has earned multiple honors, including the Jim McKay Award for Excellence in Broadcasting, and recognition from Sports Illustrated, which named her the best sideline reporter. She’s also been a steady advocate for the racing industry and the Louisville community, championing programs close to her heart.
“When I bought my first home here in 1996, I claimed Louisville as my city,” Brothers said. “Thank you for claiming me back.”
Brothers had chosen Golden Tempo as her predicted winner and walked with DeVaux ahead of the race.
“I know how hard Cherie has worked to get to this point, and I wanted to make sure that even though her horse was a long shot, that she was taken seriously,” Brothers said. “That was the main reason.”
Brothers said DeVaux’s win is “as big as it gets.”
“But not just for women in horse racing. … I think it was just really big for horse racing,” she said, pointing to brothers Jose Ortiz on Golden Tempo and Irad Ortiz Jr. on Renegade finishing in first and second, respectively. “It felt like a win all the way around.”
Greenberg said when Golden Tempo crossed the finish line, DeVaux became part of history. He added that though DeVaux was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, and raised in Florida, she is “forever one of us.”
“No one will ever forget the images of you screaming at the top of your lungs, ‘Come on, Jose,’ down the back stretch,” Greenberg said. “We were all screaming with you.”
DeVaux started her career 22 years ago as an exercise rider at Churchill Downs. She described her win as an “emotional, full-circle moment” and said the week has been surreal.
“I wasn’t surprised that Golden Tempo ran as well as he did. I just wasn’t expecting him to win. I try to set my expectations reasonable for every race, and the Kentucky Derby is a hard race to get to, much less win,” DeVaux said. “I haven’t really had that moment where it’s set in that that actually happened.”
DeVaux, who celebrated alongside her family, said she wished she could “bottle up” what she felt during the race, cheering on jockey Jose Ortiz, and after.
“I probably will never have that feeling of elation again,” she said. “God willing, I win more Kentucky Derbys, but to win that one, it just was so emotional and meaningful.”
Features reporter Kirby Adams contributed.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Cherie DeVaux, Donna Brothers honored after historic Kentucky Derby
Continue reading...
DeVaux made history May 2 as the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby with Golden Tempo. Derby 152 also marked Brothers’ last time covering the longest continuously-held sporting event in America after 26 years.
“It’s a great day to honor two legends, two pioneers in the world of horse racing who just excelled on the world stage this past weekend and have done so much leading up to this weekend,” Greenberg said.
He described Brothers and DeVaux as individuals who have “helped build the sport” and will help “lead it into the next generation.”
Following her mother’s footsteps, Brothers spent 12 years as a jockey before retiring in 1998 as the second-leading female rider in the nation by earnings. Broadcasting came next, an unexpected pivot that required her to stretch beyond her racing roots.
Since then, Brothers has earned multiple honors, including the Jim McKay Award for Excellence in Broadcasting, and recognition from Sports Illustrated, which named her the best sideline reporter. She’s also been a steady advocate for the racing industry and the Louisville community, championing programs close to her heart.
“When I bought my first home here in 1996, I claimed Louisville as my city,” Brothers said. “Thank you for claiming me back.”
Brothers had chosen Golden Tempo as her predicted winner and walked with DeVaux ahead of the race.
“I know how hard Cherie has worked to get to this point, and I wanted to make sure that even though her horse was a long shot, that she was taken seriously,” Brothers said. “That was the main reason.”
Brothers said DeVaux’s win is “as big as it gets.”
“But not just for women in horse racing. … I think it was just really big for horse racing,” she said, pointing to brothers Jose Ortiz on Golden Tempo and Irad Ortiz Jr. on Renegade finishing in first and second, respectively. “It felt like a win all the way around.”
Greenberg said when Golden Tempo crossed the finish line, DeVaux became part of history. He added that though DeVaux was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, and raised in Florida, she is “forever one of us.”
“No one will ever forget the images of you screaming at the top of your lungs, ‘Come on, Jose,’ down the back stretch,” Greenberg said. “We were all screaming with you.”
DeVaux started her career 22 years ago as an exercise rider at Churchill Downs. She described her win as an “emotional, full-circle moment” and said the week has been surreal.
“I wasn’t surprised that Golden Tempo ran as well as he did. I just wasn’t expecting him to win. I try to set my expectations reasonable for every race, and the Kentucky Derby is a hard race to get to, much less win,” DeVaux said. “I haven’t really had that moment where it’s set in that that actually happened.”
DeVaux, who celebrated alongside her family, said she wished she could “bottle up” what she felt during the race, cheering on jockey Jose Ortiz, and after.
“I probably will never have that feeling of elation again,” she said. “God willing, I win more Kentucky Derbys, but to win that one, it just was so emotional and meaningful.”
Features reporter Kirby Adams contributed.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Cherie DeVaux, Donna Brothers honored after historic Kentucky Derby
Continue reading...
