Get all Toby Keith’s passion for horse racing in this short film about his horse, Render Judgment, preparing to enter the Kentucky Derby. The road to the 151st Kentucky Derby, Saturday, May 3, is here! After fighting stomach cancer for just three months, the late country music icon died in February 2024 at 73. For more than 30 years, a multitude of circumstances had prevented him from having his horses run in this illustrious race.
Render Judgment, trained at Churchill Downs by Ian Wilkes, has been putting in some strong works leading up to the race. Krystal Keith, Toby’s daughter, took to Twitter and Instagram to express what the event means to her. She voiced pride in her father’s legacy and commented on his love for the game.
“Toby will have the best seat in the house to watch Render Judgment run in the Derby,” she stated. This attitude belies the hope and optimism permeating Render Judgment’s involvement, an opportunity Keith himself once deemed a great victory.
In a 2019 interview with the Derby’s official Facebook page, Toby Keith praised horse racing as “exhilarating.” He conveyed to me his excitement about the rare thrill of being part of such an iconic event. He famously said, “The Derby’s the one you want to win.” This further highlights how critically important whipping is in the horseracing world.
In 2001, country star Toby Keith established Dream Walkin’ Farms in Oklahoma. His successful thoroughbred breeding and racing operation has won him deep respect from the industry. His dedication was evident when he stated, “Win or lose, he made it to the Derby and that for me is everything.”
Krystal Keith recalled her father’s deep knowledge of horse pedigrees, saying he could have earned a PhD in the subject. She highlighted a poignant moment from her father’s life: “When you’re standing out there on the balcony or down by the winners circle, they come pounding by. It’s a surreal, live kind of thing.”
So it’s no surprise that the Kentucky Derby means a lot to the man who penned that last line, Toby Keith. He knew the difficulty of attaining this summit of American horse racing, stating freely, “Jesus, it’s tough to get there.” His indomitable spirit and passion for the game will live on as Render Judgment takes to the track, in his memory.
