Still on track to run for the roses.
The late, great Toby Keith was a man of many talents. Aside from being a country music superstar and an insanely underrated songwriter, the Big Dog Daddy also had a chain of I Love This Bar & Grill restaurants, his own mezcal brand Wild Shot, and several other business ventures.
But one of his biggest passions was horse racing.
Back in 2001 Toby established Dream Walkin’ Farms, a 300-acre Thoroughbred breeding and racing operation based in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. Over more than two decades, the farm achieved significant success, racking up 848 victories and over $18 million in earnings from 6,587 starts.
He wasn’t just the name on the business though: Toby was intimately involved in the operations, often attending sales like those at Keeneland, and actively participating in breeding decisions.
In 2021, Toby partnered with fellow Oklahoma native Danny Caldwell to form Country Bro Stables. Their collaboration yielded 39 victories from 264 starts, with nearly $1 million in purse earnings. Toby served as a Breeders’ Cup ambassador, and his contributions were also recognized by institutions like Remington Park and Keeneland, which honored his memory and impact on the sport.
Of course the pinnacle of horse racing is the Kentucky Derby, and last week Toby’s family announced that one of his horses, Render Judgment, would be competing in the 151st Kentucky Derby on May 3, fulfilling one of Toby’s dreams of having a horse in the most prestigious race in the sport:
“It was Toby’s dream….Render Judgment 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.”
But this morning, Render Judgment suffered a setback ahead of his run for the roses when a quarter crack was discovered on the colt’s hoof.
According to the horse’s trainer Kenny McPeek, the horse is receiving treatment for the hoof issue, which can occur due to uneven stress on the hoof from its gait or the shape of the hoof. Special shoes can often be applied to the horse to relieve the pressure from the area surrounding the crack, and the cracks in the hoof wall can also be treated with patches over the top of the hoof to stabilize the hoof wall.
Render Judgment’s co-owner, Mike Mackin, said that the colt was examined this morning by the state veterinarian, who saw no issues with the horse running the Derby. And as of right now, Render Judgment is still probable to compete on Saturday despite the crack.
It wouldn’t be the first time that a horse ran the Derby with a quarter crack, though it would likely make his longshot bid even harder than it already is.
Right now, Render Judgment is sitting at 30-1 odds to win the race, while Journalism is the favorite at 3-1.
Obviously it would be great to see Render Judgment run the race, because we all want to see Toby Keith’s dream come true of getting to have his horse in the Kentucky Derby. But the horse’s health is more important, so hopefully the crack is well taken care of and doesn’t cause any issues if he’s able to run.
The post Toby Keith’s Horse, Render Judgment, Battling A Quarter Crack Ahead Of Kentucky Derby But Is Still Expected To Be Able To Race first appeared on Whiskey Riff.