Country Music legend Toby Keith, who passed away in 2024, always dreamed of owning a race horse that competed in the Kentucky Derby.
He won't be here to see it, but his dream will come true on Saturday, May 3 when his horse, Render Judgment, competes in the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Keith passed away from stomach cancer on February 5, 2024, at the age of 62.
Earlier this week, his official Instagram account shared a post about Keith's dream, writing, "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."
Toby Keith said 'The Derby is the one you want to win'
Before his passing, in 2019, Keith said he loved going to the track when he wasn't performing.
The "How Do You Like Me Now" singer purchased his first horse for his father when he first came into money.
"The Derby is the one you want to win," he said during a 2019 interview reshared by the Kentucky Derby in April. "That's the one that everybody wants to hang on their wall saying 'I won the Kentucky Derby.' But God it's hard to get there."
Keith's horse is owned in part by Dream Walkin' Farms, an Oklahoma-based farm. It is his very first horse to make it to the Derby.
Render Judgment, a stunning Bey thoroughbred, is trained by 2024 Derby winner Kenny McPeek.
The thoroughbred was purchased for $310,000, and his earnings to date are $250,672.
The Derby hopeful will start from the 15th post when he compete on Saturday.
The 151st Kentucky Derby is scheduled to begin at 6:57 pm EST this Saturday, May 3.