Toby Keith’s Horse Will Race In The Kentucky Derby
Main: James Anthony / Pexels; Inlay: Toby Keith / Facebook
Toby Keith Had A Passion For Horse Racing
Toby Keith is remembered for many things – his timeless music, his love for the University of Oklahoma, and his commitment to helping children with cancer through The Toby Keith Foundation, to name a few. But did you know that the Big Dog Daddy was an ardent horse racing fan and even raised racing thoroughbreds of his own?
Toby began buying horses to race in the late 1990s and at his peak, had “several hundred” horses under his banner. He would later become an ambassador for the Breeders’ Cup.
The “Beer For My Horses” singer raced under Dream Walkin’ Farms, a 330-acre Oklahoma-based breeding and racing facility. Additionally, he established Country Bro Stables with Danny Caldwell in 2021. While he competed at various venues nationwide, Remington Park in Oklahoma City was his home track.
Both of Toby’s stables have a record of success. According to Equibase statistics, Dream Walkin’ Farms has recorded 848 victories since 2001, and Country Bro Stables has 39 victories from 264 starts. His top thoroughbred race horses were Cactus Ridge, Smack Smack, and Three Chords.
Following his death in February 2024, Toby’s long-time horse trainer, Bret Calhoun, told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune:
“He was a guy who loved horse racing, all facets of it. He loved the breeding part of it, the racing, and he was a big promoter of horse racing. Just an overall good guy. A patriotic guy. He was one of those guys that everyone wanted to be around…”
In a recent post, Toby’s daughter, Krystal Keith, shared:
“My dad could never decide which passion was greater, music or horse racing. He could have had a PhD in horse pedigrees.”
Toby Keith’s Kentucky Derby Dreams To Come True
Post positions for the 2025 Kentucky Derby were announced on Saturday, April 26th. Shortly after, the late-country icon’s team shared the exciting news that Toby’s horse, Render Judgement, had made the cut!
Render Judgement is a Bay Colt bred in Kentucky. He is trained by Kenny McPeek, who also trained last year’s Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan. Jockey Julien Leparoux will ride him for the first time at the Kentucky Derby.
The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby will occur on Saturday, May 3rd at the historic Churchill Downs. The Derby will be available to stream from home on NBC and Peacock.
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Krystal Keith said her superstar dad “dreamed of having his horses in the Kentucky Derby for over 30 years.”
“Here he is still making his dreams come true from his castle in the sky. Our horse Render Judgement made it yesterday just hours before the post position drawing.”
Out of 20,000+ race horses born in the same year that would be eligible, only 20 will race in the derby. Krystal adds:
“What an incredible journey we’ve been on to get here. Win or lose, he made it to the Derby and that for me is everything. Give ’em hell RJ!”
See Krystal’s full post below!
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