Golden Tempo is one of those racehorses that comes out of nowhere and makes history. In May 2026, Golden Tempo won the Grade I Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, and suddenly everyone wants to know — who owns this horse? The answer involves two very different worlds: old American racing royalty and a modern billionaire sports owner.
The short answer: Golden Tempo is owned by Phipps Stable, headed by Daisy Phipps Pulito, and St. Elias Stable, headed by Vincent Viola. Here’s the full story.
🐴 Golden Tempo — Horse Highlights
| Horse Name | Golden Tempo |
| Race Won | 2026 Kentucky Derby (152nd) |
| Race Venue | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Owners | Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stable |
| Trainer | Cherie DeVaux |
| Jockey | José Ortiz |
| Sire | Curlin |
| Dam | Carrumba |
| Pre-race Odds | 23-1 |
| Prize Money | $3.1 million (of $5M purse) |
Who owns kentucky derby winner?
Golden Tempo is owned by St. Elias Stable and Phipps Stable. It is a co-ownership between two very prominent names in American horse racing.
Phipps Stable is headed by Daisy Phipps Pulito and St. Elias Stable is headed by Vincent Viola.
| Owner / Stable | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Phipps Stable | Legacy racing family | Headed by Daisy Phipps Pulito; one of America’s oldest racing dynasties |
| St. Elias Stable | Private ownership | Headed by Vincent Viola, billionaire and Florida Panthers owner |
The Owners — Who Are They?
Phipps Stable — Daisy Phipps Pulito
The Phipps family is American thoroughbred royalty. Phipps Stable once was among the largest breeding operations in the sport. When their grandfather was alive, the stable had nearly 40 broodmares. Daisy has continued that legacy in a more focused way, bringing in partners and being selective about breeding.
Golden Tempo is a homebred horse — unlike many of the other Kentucky Derby contenders, Golden Tempo was homebred so the horse did not have a purchase price. That speaks to the depth and quality of the Phipps breeding program.
St. Elias Stable — Vincent Viola
One of the world’s richest people — Forbes recently put his net worth at greater than $7 billion — Viola already had tasted success in the Run for the Roses. He was a part-owner of 2017 Derby winner Always Dreaming. He also owns the Florida Panthers, the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup champions.
Viola said: “It’s not lost on Teresa and I and our whole family that the Phipps family has allowed us to participate in this and work with them. So Ogden, Daisy and the whole family that’s here? It’s not lost on us. And we deeply, deeply appreciate the opportunity to do special things like this.”
Key Milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Golden Tempo born as a homebred of Phipps Stable |
| Early 2026 | Wins Lecomte Stakes; gains Derby attention |
| May 2, 2026 | Wins the Grade I Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs at 23-1 odds, ridden by José Ortiz |
| May 2, 2026 | Trainer Cherie DeVaux becomes the first woman ever to prep the winner of America’s most famous horse race |
The Trainer & Jockey
Trainer — Cherie DeVaux
Cherie DeVaux made history as the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby. This win cements her place permanently in American racing history.
Jockey — José Ortiz
Heading into the Kentucky Derby, Ortiz had earned more than $307 million over his career in 18,854 starts. The victory marked Ortiz’s first Kentucky Derby win. Ortiz also won the Kentucky Oaks on the eve of the Kentucky Derby, and the veteran jockey also has wins at the Belmont Stakes and Preakness Stakes. He is originally from Puerto Rico.
The Race — How It Happened
Before the race, Golden Tempo’s odds were given at 23-1. Early in the race, the horse was in last place. Deep into the race, Golden Tempo was far behind the leader, but moved forward from 13th place to take the lead coming down the outside in the final stretch. He won, officially, by a neck — a finish that will go down in Derby lore as one of the most thrilling in race history.
Prize Money Breakdown
The winner of the Kentucky Derby receives $3.1 million of the race’s $5 million purse. Because a typical Derby payout sees about 80 percent go to the owner and 10 percent shares go to the trainer and jockey, trainer Cherie DeVaux and jockey Jose Ortiz are set to receive about $310,000 for their work.
My Take on Golden Tempo
Golden Tempo’s story is everything that makes horse racing magical. A 23-1 longshot, dead last early in the race, coming from 13th place to win by a neck — it’s the kind of finish that reminds you why people have followed this sport for centuries. What makes this win even richer is the human story around it: a historic female trainer, a Puerto Rican jockey getting his first Derby crown, an old-money racing family sharing the moment with a modern billionaire. The Phipps bloodline did what it was built to do. Whether Golden Tempo goes on to Triple Crown glory remains to be seen — but this Derby win is already one for the ages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who owns Golden Tempo?
Golden Tempo is co-owned by Phipps Stable (Daisy Phipps Pulito) and St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola).
Q: Who trained Golden Tempo?
Cherie DeVaux, who made history as the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby.
Q: Who was the jockey for Golden Tempo?
Tempo went off at 23-1, making the win a major upset.
Q: How much did Golden Tempo win?
Golden Tempo earned $3.1 million from the race’s $5 million total purse.
Q: Was Golden Tempo purchased or homebred?
Golden Tempo was homebred by Phipps Stable — no purchase price was involved.
Q: Who is Vincent Viola?
A billionaire with a net worth over $7 billion, owner of the Florida Panthers NHL team, and co-owner of Golden Tempo through St. Elias Stable.
