The 152nd Kentucky Derby: A Weekend We Will Never Forget

May 3, 2026 | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky

Golden Tempo ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz wins the 152nd Kentucky Derby. Photo: Dez Barnes

There are moments you experience through a lens that stop you completely — not because of the light or the composition, but because you know, in real time, that you are witnessing history. The 152nd Kentucky Derby was one of those moments, and we were there for every second of it.

Churchill Downs was electric. More than 150,000 fans filled the iconic grandstands, dressed to the nines, hats towering, mint juleps in hand. The energy was something you could feel in your chest before a single horse ever hit the track. From the infield chaos to the perfectly pressed suits in the clubhouse, this was America at its most celebratory — and we had our cameras ready.

A Race Nobody Saw Coming

When the gates flew open, few had Golden Tempo circled on their program. At 23-1 odds, he was an afterthought to many. But what unfolded over the next 2 minutes and 2.27 seconds was nothing short of breathtaking. Breaking slowly and trailing the entire 18-horse field, Golden Tempo threaded through traffic and unleashed a late charge from the outside to claim the Run for the Roses by a neck. The crowd erupted. The kind of roar that rattles your bones and blurs your vision — and somehow, the camera stays steady. 

History in the Winner's Circle

The story of this Derby was never just about the horse. Trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to ever prep the winner of America's most famous horse race. Let that sink in. In the 152-year history of the Kentucky Derby, out of 2,053 horses to reach the starting gate, only 18 women had ever saddled a horse before DeVaux. She didn't just win — she shattered a ceiling that had stood for over a century and a half. 

DeVaux started her career at Churchill Downs 22 years ago as an exercise rider. She got her training license in 2018, and in her first 11 months did not win a single race. She thought about quitting. She didn't. "You can dream big and you can pivot, you can come from one place and make yourself a part of history," she said after the victory. 

Standing in that winner's circle, watching her hold that trophy, was one of the most powerful things we have ever photographed.

What This Means for Women in the Sport

This win is bigger than one race. The training ranks of the Kentucky Derby had long been considered an old-boy network — and for 152 years, that held true. Not anymore. DeVaux said in her victory press conference, "It really is an honor to be that person for other women or other little girls to look up to." 

For every woman working in the barns before sunrise, managing horses, studying bloodlines, and fighting for a seat at the table — this one's for you. DeVaux herself said it best: "I wasn't setting out to get a goal of mine on behalf of women. I'm a horse trainer, and that's what I wanted — but I do understand that with that comes responsibility." That responsibility now carries the weight of history, and the door she kicked open will not close again. 

Not to be overlooked, jockey Jose Ortiz etched his own name into the record books by winning both the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and the Kentucky Derby on Saturday — just the 9th jockey in history to achieve back-to-back wins in both races. Watching him navigate Golden Tempo from dead last to the wire was a masterclass in patience, trust, and pure instinct.

The Feeling of Derby Weekend

If you have never been to the Kentucky Derby, these photos are our attempt to bring you inside it. The smell of the track, the color of the roses, the sound of "My Old Kentucky Home" echoing across 150,000 people — it is unlike anything else in American sports. Derby Week shattered its own record this year, with all-sources handle hitting a new high of $487 million, a testament to just how much this event continues to grow and captivate the world. 

We were honored to be there with our cameras. These photos are our love letter to Churchill Downs, to horse racing, and to a weekend that reminded all of us — in sport, in life, and in our own careers — that coming from behind never means you are out of it.

All photos are original works shot on-site at Churchill Downs during Derby Week 2026. All rights reserved.