(WKYT) – Golden Tempo won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga, becoming just the 13th horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont.
The victory makes trainer Cherie DeVaux the second woman to train a Belmont Stakes winner and the first woman to win two Triple Crown races. DeVaux was born in Saratoga Springs and began her training career at the track.
Horse racing fans across central Kentucky celebrated the win at watch parties. Keeneland and the Hotel Thoroughbred in Bourbon County hosted gatherings for the race.
Fans gather at Keeneland
Ohmar Portwood watched Golden Tempo cross the finish line at Keeneland.
“Excited. It means a lot to me. And I love the lady — the trainer — she lives about two blocks away from me where I do. And I’m glad she did,” Portwood said.
Portwood worked in the paddocks in the mid-1980s and still works at Keeneland. He said wins like this increase the value of racing stock.
Bourbon County celebrates
Chris Poynter owns the Hotel Thoroughbred. He hosted watch parties for all three Triple Crown races this year.
“This is just a great celebration of all things equine for our community,” Poynter said.
Poynter said watching a horse from Bourbon County compete at that level brings pride to the community.
“There are so many famous horses that have come from Bourbon County and were either foaled or bred here or owned by Bourbon Countians and so this would just make another winner from Bourbon County. It’s another celebration we will have for our community,” Poynter said.
Bradley Purcell, farm manager at Claiborne Farms where Golden Tempo was raised, said the win felt personal.
“It’s like seeing one of your own kids excel at the highest level. We’ve been very excited for the owners. Like I said he was born and raised here. We are very excited to raise a horse like this for our clients,” Purcell said.
Community members said Golden Tempo’s win was a victory for horse farms across central Kentucky.