One of Toby Keith’s lifelong dreams will be honored on May 3 when his Thoroughbred breeding and racing operation’s horse, Render Judgment, competes in the Kentucky Derby.
Heading into Saturday’s post position draw, Render Judgment — co-owned by Keith’s Dream Walkin’ Farms — was ranked 21st on the points leaderboard, just shy of securing an automatic spot in the race. However, after an injury forced one of the Top 20 contenders to withdraw, Render Judgment was able to enter the draw and now holds the No. 15 position for the Run for the Roses.
Render Judgment is a bay colt bred in Kentucky, sired by Blame and out of the Commissioner mare, Barbara Gordon. He is trained by Kenny McPeek — who also trained last year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Mystik Dan — and will be ridden by jockey Julien Leparoux for the first time at the Derby.
This is a pivotal moment for the late country music icon’s family. His daughter, Krystal Keith, took to social media to share the exciting news and honor her father’s dream.
“My 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,” she wrote. “Our horse Render Judgment made it yesterday just hours before the post position drawing. Out of 20,000+ race horses born in the same year to be eligible for this year’s race, only 20 will race in the 2025 Kentucky Derby. My dad could never decide which passion was greater, music or horse racing. He could have had a PhD in horse pedigrees. 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!”
Keith opened up about the Kentucky Derby in 2019 during a conversation with Kentucky Derby’s Connections.
“The derby is the one you want to win. Yeah, that’s the one that everybody wants to hang on their wall, saying ‘I won the Kentucky Derby.’ But, God, it’s hard to get there. …horse racing business is (frustrating but) dream more,” he said at the time. “Everything’s rolling the dice. The next one is too. And it’s exciting. You gotta live on the edge a little bit.”
After more than three decades of operating Dream Walkin’ Farms, Keith’s family has now taken over the 330-acre facility in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma.
The 151st Kentucky Derby will be held Saturday, May 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and will be broadcast on NBC and the Peacock app. Check local listings for details.
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