Cherie DeVaux Earns Place Among TIME’s 100 Most Influential Figures in Sports

The remarkable rise of trainer Cherie DeVaux reached another milestone this week as TIME Magazine included her among its inaugural list of the 100 Most Influential People in Sports for 2026.

DeVaux was recognized in the publication’s “Titans” category when the list was unveiled June 9, placing the Kentucky-based conditioner alongside some of the most impactful figures across the global sports landscape.

The honor comes on the heels of a groundbreaking season that has elevated DeVaux from one of racing’s rising stars to one of the sport’s most recognizable figures.

Earlier this spring, DeVaux etched her name into Thoroughbred racing history when Golden Tempo stormed from the back of the pack to win the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The victory made her the first woman ever to train a Kentucky Derby winner, a landmark achievement for the sport.

The success did not stop there.

Just weeks later, Golden Tempo added another chapter to an already memorable campaign by capturing the 158th Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course under Jose Ortiz. With that triumph, DeVaux became the first female trainer to win two Triple Crown races and only the second woman to saddle a Belmont Stakes winner, following Jena Antonucci’s victory with Arcangelo in 2023.

DeVaux’s historic Kentucky Derby victory resonated far beyond racing’s traditional audience. Her emotional celebration after Golden Tempo’s win quickly spread across social media, introducing millions of sports fans to a trainer whose passion and authenticity made her an instant fan favorite.

Following the Derby, DeVaux emphasized the broader significance of the accomplishment, noting that she hoped her success would serve as inspiration for women and young girls pursuing their own goals. Her message—”We can do anything we set our minds to”—became one of the defining themes of the 2026 Triple Crown season.

For a trainer who launched her own stable only a few years ago, the recognition from TIME represents another extraordinary achievement in what has already become one of the most memorable years by any horseman—or horsewoman—in recent memory.

And with Golden Tempo continuing to establish himself as one of the leading 3-year-olds in training, DeVaux’s influence on the sport appears far from finished.