Introduction
Toby Keith will always be remembered as more than just a country music icon. While millions loved him for his powerful voice and enduring hits, many also knew him as a man deeply connected to his roots—an avid supporter of the University of Oklahoma and a generous heart behind The Toby Keith Foundation, which helps children battling cancer. But there’s another side of Toby that some fans may not know: his deep love for horse racing.
Long before his final curtain call, Toby had developed a sincere passion for the sport of kings. In the late 1990s, he began investing in racehorses, eventually managing what was once described as “several hundred” horses under his ownership. His involvement in the racing world grew so strong that he later served as an ambassador for the prestigious Breeders’ Cup.
Toby raced his thoroughbreds under the name Dream Walkin’ Farms, a 330-acre facility in Oklahoma dedicated to breeding and training elite racehorses. In 2021, he teamed up with fellow horseman Danny Caldwell to establish Country Bro Stables. While his horses competed across the country, Remington Park in Oklahoma City remained his home turf—a place where his racing journey truly came alive.
His stables were more than just a hobby—they were a winning force. According to Equibase data, Dream Walkin’ Farms has amassed 848 wins since 2001. Meanwhile, Country Bro Stables has secured 39 victories out of 264 races. Among his standout horses were Cactus Ridge, Smack Smack, and Three Chords, each a testament to Toby’s dedication and sharp eye for potential on the track.
After Toby’s passing in February 2024, longtime trainer Bret Calhoun spoke with the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, remembering his friend not just as a public figure, but as someone truly passionate about the sport:
“He was a guy who loved horse racing, all facets of it. He loved the breeding part of it, the racing, and he was a big promoter of horse racing. Just an overall good guy. A patriotic guy. He was one of those guys that everyone wanted to be around…”
That sentiment was echoed by Toby’s daughter, Krystal Keith, in a heartfelt tribute shared not long after:
“My dad could never decide which passion was greater, music or horse racing. He could have had a PhD in horse pedigrees.”
It’s clear that horse racing wasn’t just a pastime for Toby Keith—it was a lifelong love that paralleled his music career. In the same way he poured his heart into every lyric, he devoted himself to the world of thoroughbreds, always chasing something greater, something deeply personal. His legacy continues not only through the songs that still echo in our hearts but also through the horses that thunder down the track, carrying his dream with every stride.
Toby Keith’s Kentucky Derby Dreams To Come True
Post positions for the 2025 Kentucky Derby were announced on Saturday, April 26th. Shortly after, the late-country icon’s team shared the exciting news that Toby’s horse, Render Judgement, had made the cut!
Render Judgement is a Bay Colt bred in Kentucky. He is trained by Kenny McPeek, who also trained last year’s Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan. Jockey Julien Leparoux will ride him for the first time at the Kentucky Derby.
The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby will occur on Saturday, May 3rd at the historic Churchill Downs. The Derby will be available to stream from home on NBC and Peacock.
Krystal Keith said her superstar dad “dreamed of having his horses in the Kentucky Derby for over 30 years.”
“Here he is still making his dreams come true from his castle in the sky. Our horse Render Judgement made it yesterday just hours before the post position drawing.”
Out of 20,000+ race horses born in the same year that would be eligible, only 20 will race in the derby. Krystal adds:
“What an incredible journey we’ve been on to get here. Win or lose, he made it to the Derby and that for me is everything. Give ’em hell RJ!”
See Krystal’s full post below!
