LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) 鈥� Nearly a dozen members of Cherie DeVaux’s family piled into a big white van, driving all the way from New York to Louisville to watch Golden Tempo run in the Kentucky Derby. Stories were told, shenanigans ensued and only one topic was off limits during the 14-hour drive.
鈥淣o one was allowed to say we鈥檙e going to win because I鈥檓 superstitious,鈥� sister Adrianne DeVaux said. 鈥淣o one鈥檚 allowed to say that. Since I was a little kid watching races, we鈥檙e not allowed to say we鈥檙e going to win.”
No jinxes were created on their journey, which turned out to be worth it and then some. They watched Golden Tempo charge down the stretch at Churchill Downs to victory, making DeVaux the a Kentucky Derby winner.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e probably not going to sleep,鈥� Cherie said at the celebratory postrace news conference, knowing her family has another long ride to tackle Sunday. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if there鈥檚 enough Red Bull or energy drinks in the world for them, but they鈥檙e probably riding high.鈥�
They weren’t exactly riding in silence on the way, though one of Cherie’s siblings lost her voice before starting and dad Butch, Adrianne said, was beaten down into keeping his mouth shut. He obliged.
鈥淚 was told get in there, be quiet and you can open your mouth when you get down there,鈥� Butch said. 鈥淚t was a long, long ride.鈥�
Adrianne, herself also a trainer based at Belmont Park in New York, using the hashtag #devauxsonthegeaux. Picking up passengers in New Paltz, the whole crew got on the road just after 2 p.m. Thursday.
鈥淗ow many did we have, Nine? Ten? I don鈥檛 know,鈥� Adrianne said. 鈥淲e lost count.鈥�
Brother Kenneth chimed in, 鈥淲e didn’t lose any people.鈥�
It got off to an eventful start. Less than two hours in, Adrianne tweeted, 鈥淥ne jolly rancher thrown from the back to the front windshield and two Aleve taken already.鈥�
The DeVauxs stopped at Wawa for snacks, Burger King for dinner and just before 4 a.m. Friday. After the thrilling race, Adrian tweeted, 鈥淗ey we won the Kentucky Derby!鈥� 鈥� with the hashtag, of course.
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