Latest news with #DreamWalkin'Farms
Fox News
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Toby Keith's Kentucky Derby dream becomes reality a year after country star's death
Toby Keith's dream has come true a little more than a year after the country icon died at 62. At the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Keith's Dream Walkin' Farms will debut its first thoroughbred horse in the derby. The country singer started his racing operation in 2001. Keith's official Instagram account made the announcement on April 27. "It was Toby's dream. Render Judgment is going to the Kentucky Derby," the post read. "He worked so hard to finally have one there! Toby will have the best seat in the house to watch." Included was a set of photos of Render Judgment in action. According to a press release obtained by Fox News Digital, Render Judgment placed 21st on April 26, one spot short of an automatic placement in the Kentucky Derby. "It was Toby's dream. Render Judgment is going to the Kentucky Derby." However, horse Tappan Street had to drop out of the Run for Roses and Render Judgment was bumped up. On Friday, Keith's horse trainer, Kenny McPeek, was a guest on "Fox & Friends First" and spoke about Keith's love for horse racing. WATCH: LATE TOBY KEITH'S KENTUCKY DERBY DREAM COMES TRUE AS HIS HORSE IS SET TO COMPETE "Well some say Toby loved thoroughbred horse racing more than he did music, which is really saying a lot, right?" he said. McPeek first met Keith at the races over 20 years ago in Louisiana. "He was always a lot of fun, and he's sorely missed in the horse racing industry," he said. In 2019, Keith told the Kentucky Derby Connections that the Kentucky Derby is the race "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 … [the] horse racing business is (frustrating but) dream more. Everything's rolling the dice. The next one is, too. And it's exciting. You got to live on the edge a little bit," he concluded. Keith operated Dream Walkin' Farms for more than three decades, and now his family has taken over the 330-acre facility in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, according to the press release. On Feb. 5, 2024, Keith's family announced his death in a statement posted to his website and social media accounts. "Toby Keith passed away peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time," the statement read. Keith revealed in June 2022 that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. The Oklahoma-based country music star was best known for his 1993 hit song, "Should've Been a Cowboy." His breakout hit was played 3 million times on radio stations and became the most-played country song of the 1990s. Among his 20 No. 1 Billboard hits were "How Do You Like Me Now?!," "As Good As I Once Was," "My List" and "Beer for My Horses," a duet with Willie Nelson. His 2002 song, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," showcased his patriotism after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Keith, however, didn't just use the idea of American patriotism in his songs. He gave his support to the American military, going on 11 USO tours to visit and play for troops serving overseas. He also wrote about his support for the men and women in America's military with his 2003 hit, "American Soldier." Keith helped raise millions for charity over his career, including building a home in Oklahoma City for kids and their families battling cancer. The singer also played at events for Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, the latter giving him a National Medal of the Arts in 2021. Keith is survived by his wife, Tricia, three children and four grandchildren.
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
Toby Keith's horse Render Judgment set to compete in Kentucky Derby
Toby Keith's horse Render Judgment is set to race in the 151st Kentucky Derby on Saturday. The legendary race will take place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and will see the late country singer's thoroughbred, which he partially owned, competing in the annual run. A post shared on Keith's Facebook page on April 26, which included a photo of Render Judgment, noted that it was Keith's dream to see his horse race in the Derby. Country music star Toby Keith dies at 62 "He worked so hard to finally have one there! Toby will have the best seat in the house to watch," the caption read. Keith, who died of stomach cancer in February 2024, founded Dream Walkin' Farms, an Oklahoma-based thoroughbred breeding and racing operation, in 2001. In a 2019 interview published on the Derby's official Facebook page, Keith called horse racing "exhilarating." "When you're standing out there on the balcony or down by the winners circle, they come pounding by," he said at the time. "It's a surreal, live kind of thing." "The Derby's the one you want to win," he added. "That's the one that everybody wants to hang on their walls, saying, 'I won the Kentucky Derby.' But God, it's hard to get there." Ahead of Derby weekend, Keith's daughter Krystal Keith took to Instagram to write about her dad's horse competing in the race. Toby Keith was a dad of 3: Get to know the kids of the late country singer "My dad dreamed of having his horses in the Kentucky Derby for over 30 years," she wrote. "Here he is still making his dreams come true from his castle in the sky." She continued, "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," she added. "Win or lose, he made it to the Derby and that for me is everything. Give 'em hell RJ!" The Kentucky Derby takes place Saturday, May 3, and is scheduled for approximately 6:57 p.m. ET.
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Toby Keith's Kentucky Derby 'dream' comes true with 2025 horse Render Judgment
Toby Keith's Kentucky Derby 'dream' comes true with 2025 horse Render Judgment Show Caption Hide Caption Kentucky Derby 2025: Baffert's return, and Journalism is the horse to watch Previewing the 151st Kentucky Derby, focusing on Journalism's chances and Bob Baffert's return. The horse starting out of Gate 15 during the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby has long odds to win the first Triple Crown race of 2025. But it might be the pick with the most sentimental value in the field Saturday at Churchill Downs. Render Judgment is owned, in part, by Dream Walkin' Farms, which was run by the late country music superstar Toby Keith. The singer with No. 1 hits that included "Beer For My Horses" and "Should've Been a Cowboy," died in February 2024 at the age of 62 less than two years after announcing he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. This will be the first Kentucky Derby entrant for the Oklahoma-based thoroughbred and racing operation Keith started in 2001. "It was Toby's dream," began the caption to a post on Keith's official Instagram account announcing Render Judgment's inclusion as one of the 20 horses in the 2025 Kentucky Derby lineup. "Render Judgment is going to the @kentuckyderby. He worked so hard to finally have one there! Toby will have the best seat in the house to watch." KENTUCKY DERBY 2025: Field boasts sons of two Triple Crown winners. Has it happened before? Toby Keith's Kentucky Derby horse: What to know Render Judgment was a late entrant into the 2025 Kentucky Derby after initial reports suggested it would not race in Saturday's main event at Churchill Downs, despite being first on the "also-eligible" list based on qualifying points. Trainer Kenny McPeek then announced on Saturday, April 26 that Render Judgment had been entered in the 2025 Kentucky Derby after Tappan Street was removed from the race following an injury suffered in a workout. Keith raced and bred horses under the name Dream Walkin', which took its name from a song (and an album of the same name) released in 1997, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. Since its founding in 2001, Dream Walkin' Farms has earned more than $19 million. Dream Walkin' Farms' most successful racehorse, as sole owner, was Smack Smack, a graded-stakes winning thoroughbred. In 2016, Smack Smack placed first in the Grade 3 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows Racetrack in Altoona, Iowa. Render Judgment is also owned by Baccari Racing Stable, MJM Racing and Rocket Ship Racing. The colt is trained by McPeek, who won his first Kentucky Derby in 10 tries last year with longshot Mystik Dan. Jockey Julien Leparoux is slated to ride Render Judgment in a race for the first time on Saturday. McPeek told FanDuel Racing he initially did not recommend Render Judgment be entered into the Kentucky Derby based on recent results, although the horse broke its maiden at Churchill Downs in October 2024. Render Judgment had 30-1 odds once the post positions for the 2025 Kentucky Derby were announced, and McPeek admitted the horse "needs to a find a whole level than we've seen from him as far as speed of the race." It most recently finished fifth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 8 at Keeneland. But ownership, including Keith's family, wanted this for Keith as much as anything. "The group, they pow-wowed without me, which is fine, and they decided they wanted to run and ... if that's what they want to do, I'm all for it. Matter of fact, I'm hoping I'm really happy they convinced me to Saturday night," McPeek said. "I understand the dream and ... it's Toby Keith's family and Toby passed away this past year and I think there's some sentiment there, which, look, I believe in higher powers and I hope a higher power comes through." When is the 2025 Kentucky Derby? The 151st Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs is set for Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Kentucky Derby will be broadcast on NBC and USA Network. Streaming options will be available on Fubo (which offers a free trial) and Peacock. Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025 Saturday, May 3, 2025 Time: 6:45 p.m. ET 6:45 p.m. ET TV: NBC, USA Network NBC, USA Network Stream: Fubo, Peacock Fubo, Peacock Location: Churchill Downs (Louisville, Kentucky) Watch the Kentucky Derby with Fubo
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Toby Keith will have a Kentucky Derby contender racing in 2025
Sadly, the late Toby Keith won't be around to enjoy what was his "dream." The country singer who died in 2024 was a huge horse racing fan and owned Dream Walkin' Farms in Oklahoma, which helped bring Render Judgement to the 2025 Kentucky Derby. KENTUCKY DERBY ODDS: Keith's Twitter account posted this message after the Derby lineup was announced: "It was Toby's dream….Render Judgement is going to the [Kentucky Derby]. He worked so hard to finally have one there! Toby will have the best seat in the house to watch." This is just Fantastic! It was Toby's dream….Render Judgement is going to the @KentuckyDerby. He worked so hard to finally have one there! Toby will have the best seat in the house to watch. — Toby Keith (@tobykeith) April 26, 2025 We know there will be country music fans everywhere rooting this one on. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Toby Keith has Render Judgement racing in 2025 Kentucky Derby
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
How Toby Keith will have a Kentucky Derby contender racing in 2025
How Toby Keith will have a Kentucky Derby contender racing in 2025 Sadly, the late Toby Keith won't be around to enjoy what was his "dream." The country singer who died in 2024 was a huge horse racing fan and owned Dream Walkin' Farms in Oklahoma, which helped bring Render Judgement to the 2025 Kentucky Derby. KENTUCKY DERBY ODDS: Every horse running at Churchill Downs this year Keith's Twitter account posted this message after the Derby lineup was announced: "It was Toby's dream….Render Judgement is going to the [Kentucky Derby]. He worked so hard to finally have one there! Toby will have the best seat in the house to watch." This is just Fantastic! We know there will be country music fans everywhere rooting this one on.
