Toby Keith’s Horse Nearly Misses the Derby but Still Races Through the Mud Against All Odds

Toby Keith’s Other Passion: A Legacy in Horse Racing Lives On at the Kentucky Derby

While fans around the world know Toby Keith as a country music icon, fewer may realize he also had a deep, decades-long love for horse racing. In fact, according to his daughter Krystal Keith, it was nearly impossible to tell which passion ran deeper:

“My dad could never decide which passion was greater—music or horse racing. He could’ve had a PhD in horse pedigrees.”

From Country Stages to the Racetrack
Keith’s journey in horse racing began in the late 1990s, when he launched Dream Walkin’ Farms, a sprawling 330-acre breeding and racing operation based in Oklahoma. Over the years, his operation expanded to include hundreds of horses.

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In 2021, he co-founded Country Bro Stables alongside Danny Caldwell, further solidifying his place in the sport. Though his horses raced across the country, Remington Park in Oklahoma City was his home turf.

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A Dream Realized: Toby Keith’s Horse Makes the Derby
Toby’s lifelong dream of having a horse compete in the Kentucky Derby finally came true in 2025 with Render Judgment, a three-year-old Bay Colt co-owned by Dream Walkin’ Farms. Bred in Kentucky and trained by Kenny McPeek—the same trainer behind 2024 winner Mystik Dan—Render Judgment entered the Derby after another contender scratched, bumping him from 21st to 20th on the leaderboard.

Despite battling wet, muddy conditions and dealing with a quarter crack injury on his left front hoof just days before the race, Render Judgment pushed through and proudly represented the legacy of Dream Walkin’ Farms.

The Result: A Place in Derby History
Running from post position 15, Render Judgment ultimately placed 17th in the field of 19. While it wasn’t a win, just making it to Churchill Downs—where only 20 horses out of over 20,000 born each year qualify—is an incredible feat in itself.

🏇 “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” just got a little more meaningful for country fans everywhere.

A Legacy Beyond the Music
Toby Keith passed away in February 2024, but his presence was unmistakably felt during this year’s Derby. With a horse carrying his dream across the finish line, his family, fans, and racing team celebrated not just a milestone—but a moment that blended heart, heritage, and horsepower.

Congratulations to Dream Walkin’ Farms, Country Bro Stables, and the entire Render Judgment team.