It's been over a year since Toby Keith's death, but his legacy lives on through his music and outside endeavors.
Among Keith's many endeavors is a lifelong dream involving a passion for breeding and racing horses. That dream lives on in 2025 as one of the horses from Keith's farm will run at Churchill Downs at the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
Here is everything to know about Keith's horse racing dream, and how it will be realized in honor of his legacy.
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When did Toby Keith die?
- Death date: Feb. 5, 2024
Keith died in his sleep on Feb. 5, 2024. He was 62 years old.
How did Toby Keith die?
Keith died after a long battle with stomach cancer.
He was diagnosed at the end of 2021, and in a December 2022 press release, he called the battle "pretty debilitating."
Toby Keith horse racing 'dream'
Keith's Instagram account, which is still run posthumously by social media managers, shared a post reacting to Render Judgment's upcoming participation in the derby.
"It was Toby’s dream ... Render Judgment is going to the [Kentucky Derby]," the account posted Tuesday. "He worked so hard to finally have one there! Toby will have the best seat in the house to watch."
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Keith raced and bred horses under the name Dream Walkin', which took its name from a song and album released in 1997.
Dream Walkin' Farms is a part-owner of Render Judgment. Keith started the operation in 2001, but this is the first Kentucky Derby entrant for Dream Walkin' Farms. The theme of dreams runs heavy, as Keith's operation realizes a long-term goal.
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Why Render Judgment was late entry to Kentucky Derby
Render Judgment was a late entry to the Kentucky Derby after an injury sustained by Tappan Street.
Initial reports indicated that Render Judgment would not race in the Kentucky Derby, though it was first on the "also-eligible" list based on qualifying points. The horse's trainer, Kenny McPeek, initially opposed Render Judgment's inclusion, but ownership decided to let Render Judgment race in Keith's honor.
"The group, they pow-wowed without me, which is fine, and they decided they wanted to run and ... if that's what they want to do, I'm all for it. Matter of fact, I'm hoping I'm really happy they convinced me to Saturday night," McPeek told FanDuel Racing.
"I understand the dream and ... it's Toby Keith's family and Toby passed away this past year and I think there's some sentiment there, which, look, I believe in higher powers and I hope a higher power comes through."
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