SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Cherie DeVaux knows Saratoga Springs well. She was born in the upstate New York town, and after growing up in Florida, she returned to study at the University of Albany, just a 30-minute drive away.
After two years, DeVaux stopped pursuing a degree and took a chance on her passion for horse racing, where she started as a hot walker for trainer Chuck Simon. She set her sights on one day being an exercise rider.
On Saturday, DeVaux won’t be crossing Union Avenue as a hot walker, or riding and working horses out on the Oklahoma Training Track. Five weeks after becoming the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, she’ll watch Golden Tempo run in the 158th Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course to close out this year’s Triple Crown trail for thoroughbred racing.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to get to spend with my family in the buildup and the week of,” DeVaux said. “Getting to spend time with my family, the young ones that don’t get to come to the races — my nieces and nephews — so I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to share what I do with them.”
DeVaux’s celebration with her family at Louisville’s Churchill Downs on May 2 went viral, but she was more excited about the victory than the history.