Guatemala had a protagonist in the 152nd edition of the Kentucky Derby held this Saturday, May 2 at the Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. José Hernández, originally from Santa Rosa, is the groom of the horse Golden Tempo, the horse that took victory in the most emblematic race in the equestrian world under the leadership of the Puerto Rican jockey José Luis Ortiz and under the preparation of Cherie DeVaux, who became the first woman trainer to win this emblematic race. Hernández, who works in the United States as the horse’s caretaker, ensures that the animal is in peak health and condition to compete at the highest level.
The work of a groom is essential in horse racing, although it often goes unnoticed by the public. Hernández is in charge of guaranteeing the feeding, exercise, veterinary care and general well-being of Golden Tempo, a task that requires dedication and in-depth knowledge of the animal and is decisive for the horse to be able to perform at its best in competition.
The most exciting thing about the race was the comeback of Golden Tempo, who started from the back of the pack and overtook rivals one by one until crossing the finish line first with a time of 2 minutes, 2 seconds and 27 hundredths for a mile and an eighth, beating Renegade by a neck in one of the most exciting finishes in recent years at Churchill Downs.
Cameras at the event captured him breaking into tears, visibly emotional, as his horse crossed the finish line first at Churchill Downs. The Guatemalan did not hide his pride and dedicated the achievement to his homeland with a message full of feeling. “This goes out to all my people in Santa Rosa. We look forward to it here in the United States”expressed the man from Santa Rosa through tears, in a moment that quickly went viral on social networks and generated a wave of messages of admiration and affection towards the Guatemalan who works silently behind one of the most important horses in the current equestrian world.
Behind every champion… there is a story that few see 🏇❤️
We spoke with José Hernández, Guatemalan groom, the man who is with Golden Tempo, winner of the Kentucky Derby, every day.
Far from his country, with sacrifice and silent work, today he is part of the conquest… pic.twitter.com/Uh7uejt4EN
— PASSION for HORSE RIDING (@Pasionporlahip) May 2, 2026
A legendary career
The Kentucky Derby is the first of the three races that make up the Triple Crown of American turf and has been held every first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs since 1875, when it was founded by Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., directly inspired by the prestigious Epsom Derby in England. The race covers a distance of one and a quarter miles and has been named “The two most exciting minutes in sport”a description that summarizes the intensity of an event that concentrates the attention of fans of the equestrian world throughout the planet. A blanket of roses is placed on the winning horse’s back, a tradition that has given the race its nickname “The race for the roses.”
The 152nd edition brought together 20 three-year-old colts with Golden Tempo winning with a powerful attack in the final stages that left the favorite Renegade behind in one of the most surprising results in recent years given its price of 23 to 1. The victory was also historic for Cherie DeVaux’s role as the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby.in a day that had several protagonists but where the Guatemalan José Hernández stole the hearts of the Chapina fans with his cry of joy when seeing his horse cross the finish line first in Louisville.
With his work behind Golden Tempo, José Hernández shows that Guatemalans leave their mark on the most important stages in the world not only from the soccer fields or the boxing rings but also in disciplines that require dedication, love for animals and daily work that often does not receive the recognition it deserves. Today, the people of Santa Rosa are a source of pride for Guatemala and for all its people from Santa Rosa who celebrate it from the other side of the world..
The Hispanic winners of the @KentuckyDerby 2026. José Hernández is the “groom” of Golden Tempo, the horse that won the race and was successfully ridden by Puerto Rican José Ortiz, from the La Gloria neighborhood in Trujillo Alto.
From Guatemala, horse groomer since 2013, Hernández… pic.twitter.com/BgNAA6Wy4z
— BonitaRadio (@Bonita_Radio) May 4, 2026