Toby Keith’s horse Render Judgment to run in Kentucky Derby: Trainer Kenneth McPeek shares his journey

The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby is upon us at Churchill Downs this weekend.

Country music star Toby Keith, who died last year at age 62, was a big racing fan and dreamed of running a horse in the Kentucky Derby. On Saturday, Render Judgment, a horse partially owned by Keith, will leave the starting gate in the Run for the Roses. He will do so as one of the longest shots in the field.

Who is Render Judgment?

Render Judgment is a 3 year old colt and has raced from 2024 to 2025. He was sired by Blame out of the Commissioner mare Barbara Gordon. He was trained by Kenneth G. McPeek and has raced for Baccari Racing Stable LLC, Dream Walkin Farms, Inc., MJM Racing, Rocket Ship Racing and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek), and was bred in Kentucky, United States by Green Lantern Stables. Render Judgment has raced and won at Churchill Downs, Colonial Downs, Fair Grounds, Keeneland.

Q: Your journey to getting here with Render, obviously, it was it was a scratch draw from over the weekend. Just tell me about his journey to getting to the Derby and how you've been able to train him the past couple of years.

A: Well, we bought the horses. The yearling for Toby and some other partners of mine. Two years ago at the phase Tipton sale. And this beautiful horse, I mean, one of the most handsome horse you'll ever lay eyes on. He's from blame top stallion. And, we put him through his process as he went to our farm in Ocala, Florida to get started. And, he's done everything right from the beginning, and and, for those that don't know, the Kentucky Derby points system is, is a process where you have to get points in certain races to be able to, to qualify. He actually didn't draw in. He, he, he actually was on the list. And then when they subsequently had entry day, he had enough points to make the body of the race and he drew post position number 15. But it's it's, a real privilege to have a horse like, like this for for Toby and his family. And it's a, it's a shame that he's not here today, but we're going to go over there representing, as best we can.

Q: Overall, just your, your history of success, you know, with, with races and obviously being a reigning champ so far just with Mystik Dan what is what is that look like as a trainer going in and having that success?

A: Well, you really have to compartmentalize everything. You really can't worry about what happened last year. That doesn't mean anything this year. You've got to continue to worry about each horse individually. And and that's what we do. I've got a filly for the Oaks and I've got a colt for the Derby with him. And so we're going to go over there once again worrying about one horse at a time. And, and we don't dwell on what happened last year. We're really proud of it. Don't get me wrong. I mean, that was amazing. You know, I've worked all my career almost 40 years doing this. And, to pull that off both races in one weekend, I'm still a little bit. Wow. Do we actually do that? We did that. So quite proud.

Q: How did you get to know Toby? You know. And and how did that how did that relationship start?

A: I've known Toby for over a decade. Mostly from seeing him at the races at Delta Downs or Oaklawn Park. Of course, he spent a lot of time in Oklahoma, but we would see him at the races then and, some other trainers that had horses for him prior to me, but I'd, I'd hung out with him a little bit here and there and, probably spent the most time with him at Oaklawn. Like I said, the first time I met him was in 2000. Well, actually, it's been longer than that. 2006 at Delta Downs for big race there. And, just always a real charming guy and just as passionate, some say liked horse racing better than he did music. That's saying a lot, right?

Q: What is been your your most prideful win that you've had in your career?

A: Easily Mystic Dan Kentucky Derby last year. And not just because of the Kentucky Derby. When you do this. So, for example, I bought I bought his mother, I recommended the mating to the Golden Sense. My team foaled him at my farm. We raised him. We brought him to saddle. We brought him to the races, and we won Derby with him. It's good start to finish, start to finish. And most people are quite happy to be very proud of destroying one of the one of those stages and to have put together all of it is, yeah, pretty much a career move. I mean, nobody's ever done it before. All that. So, Yeah. Quite proud.

McPeek ended the interview by saying, "God bless Toby Keith."

The Derby will be on Saturday May 2nd with the race to begin at 5:57 p.m. CST