LOUISVILLE, Ky. - TelAve -- Each year the Trailblazer Award is presented to an outstanding female leader in the community. This individual makes an impact in their industry, in their spheres of influence and in their volunteer roles. Women's Business Enterprise Council Ohio River Valley (WBEC ORV), is thrilled to announce Cherie DeVaux as the 2026 Trailblazer Award Winner.

The award is presented at the Trailblazer Dinner, part of WBEC ORV's annual Catch the Wave Conference. This year's event will be held at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, KY on August 25, 2026, and will include a video recap of Cherie's accomplishments and insights.

"Cherie is a prime example of what it means to be a trailblazer. Not only is she the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby and second female trainer to win the Belmont Stakes, but she has also built a racing team that defines success by ensuring each member feels supported and has the opportunity to flourish," says Dr. Fredrica Singletary, WBEC ORV President & CEO. WBEC ORV is not the only organization to take notice – Cherie was also recently named a Time Magazine Top 100 Sports Figure.

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Each year the Trailblazer Award Winner gets to choose an organization to highlight, and Cherie has chosen the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) for 2026.  The nonprofit accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Since 2012, 20,000 Thoroughbreds have been retrained, rehomed, or retired by accredited organizations. A portion of the proceeds raised at Catch the Wave will be donated to TAA in Cherie's honor.

Though Cherie's travel schedule permits her from accepting the award in person, please join us to celebrate her accomplishments and see the new Golden Tempo display (winning Derby horse) at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Full conference passes and single day passes available. https://wbecorv.swoogo.com/CatchTheWave2026

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners, small business owners and entrepreneurs. Women's Business Enterprise Council Ohio River Valley (WBEC ORV) provides WBENC certification to women owned companies in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. While certifying women owned businesses is the foundation of our mission, WBEC ORV also offers development opportunities to scale businesses to compete in the marketplace, connections with corporations leading supplier inclusion across the country for real time business opportunities, and networking with other WBEs for partnering and purchasing opportunities.

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