Cherie DeVaux is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who became one of the most important names in modern U.S. horse racing. She made history on May 2, 2026, when Golden Tempo won the 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The victory made DeVaux the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby. Golden Tempo closed from the back of the field and won at 23-1 odds under jockey Jose Ortiz.
| Net Worth: | $1 to 5 Million |
|---|---|
| Real Name: | Cherie DeVaux |
| Birth Date: | December 2, 1981 |
| Age (as of 2026): | 44 Years |
| Birth Place: | Saratoga Springs, New York, USA |
| Height: | – |
| Parents: | Adrian “Butch” DeVaux & Janet DeVaux |
| Husband: | David Ingordo |
Early Life
Cherie DeVaux was born on 2nd December 1981, in Saratoga Springs, New York. She grew up around racing culture, which shaped her early interest in horses. Her family had strong links to Standardbred and harness racing, giving her early exposure to the rhythm and demands of the sport. Public profiles also describe her as being raised partly in Florida.
Family Background
DeVaux comes from a large racing family, as she has nine siblings, including seven brothers and two sisters. Her family’s connection to harness racing became an important part of her early life. Reports identify her father as Butch DeVaux, who was involved in training, and her brother Jimmy DeVaux as a trainer and driver with more than 5,000 career wins.
Before choosing a full-time life with horses, DeVaux studied pre-med in college. She did not continue toward a medical career. Instead, she moved toward racing after working around Thoroughbreds in Saratoga. That change placed her on a demanding but natural path, because she already understood the racing world through her family background. Keeneland’s profile says she began as a stable worker for trainer Chuck Simon before building a deeper career in Thoroughbred racing.
Career
Cherie DeVaux started her racing career from the ground level. She worked for trainer Chuck Simon for six years, learning stable management, horse care, race preparation, and daily barn operations. She later joined Chad Brown’s operation, where she spent eight years as an assistant trainer. That period became a major training ground for her professional style.
While working with Brown, DeVaux played an important role in the comeback of champion Lady Eli. The mare returned to racing after recovering from laminitis, a serious and often career-threatening hoof condition. That experience helped strengthen DeVaux’s reputation as a patient, detail-focused horsewoman.
Cherie DeVaux launched her own stable in 2018. She started with eight horses and earned her first win on her 29th start. From there, her operation grew steadily. America’s Best Racing states that she spent more than a decade as an assistant before building her own stable and later becoming a Kentucky Derby-winning trainer.
Her rise accelerated in the 2020s. She trained More Than Looks to win the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Mile, a major international-level achievement. She also trained She Feels Pretty, who became an Eclipse Award-winning turf female in 2025. These results moved DeVaux from a respected trainer to an elite national figure.
The biggest moment of her career came at the 2026 Kentucky Derby. Golden Tempo, a Curlin colt owned by Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, rallied strongly to win the race. The victory made DeVaux the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner. It also made her only the second woman trainer to win any U.S. Triple Crown race, after Jena Antonucci won the 2023 Belmont Stakes with Arcangelo.
By May 4, 2026, Keeneland listed DeVaux with more than $36 million in North American career earnings and 299 wins. Equibase also listed her career record at 1,807 starts, 299 wins, 270 seconds, 213 thirds, and $36,422,804 in earnings. These figures refer to purse earnings by horses she trained, not her personal income.
Personal Life
Cherie DeVaux is married to bloodstock agent David Ingordo. Their marriage connects two respected areas of the racing business: training and bloodstock selection. Ingordo works in the horse sales and bloodstock world, while DeVaux manages the daily racing and development side of her stable.
DeVaux appears to live a private but deeply racing-centered life. Public information about her children, home life, or personal routines remains limited. Reports after her Derby victory noted that her family drove from New York to Louisville to support her. She has often described herself first as a horse trainer while also understanding the importance of her success for women in racing.
Social Media Presence
Cherie DeVaux maintains a public presence on X under the handle @reredevaux. Her profile identifies her as a Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup-winning trainer. She also uses the platform for professional updates and contact information related to her racing work.
Cherie DeVaux Net Worth
Cherie DeVaux earns income mainly from trainer commissions, day-rate training fees, stable operations, bonuses, and earnings connected to major race success. In U.S. racing, trainers commonly receive a share of purse earnings, but exact terms can vary by owner and contract. Her horses had earned more than $36 million in North American purses by early May 2026, but that total does not equal her personal net worth. Thus, her estimated net worth should be in the low single-digit millions as of 2026, but this remains approximate. Her 2026 Kentucky Derby victory, Breeders’ Cup success, Grade 1 wins, and growing national profile likely increased her earning power and stable demand.
