Golden Tempo’s Kentucky Derby win came with a Pittsburgh connection.
The champion thoroughbred is owned by St. Elias Stable and Phipps Stable, USA Today reported.
Ogden Phipps, who spoke at Saturday night’s Kentucky Derby news conference, pointed out his five sisters, three children, nieces and nephews standing behind him, according to USA Today. Daisy Phipps Pulito, another sister, sat to his left.
They’re descended from Henry Phipps Jr. — friend and colleague of Andrew Carnegie’s and a driving force in the Carnegie Steel empire. He also became a philanthropist through Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh and more, the New York Times reported.
“We always really thought what this feeling would be like to be together and (win the Derby),” Ogden said. “It far surpasses it.”
Golden Tempo won the Run for the Roses Saturday at Churchill Downs, and Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner.
And it wasn’t the first Kentucky Derby win for the family.
“It’s a family hobby. It’s a family passion,” Ogden said, according to USA Today. “It’s a family business for us, and we love it.”
The late Ogden Mills Phipps — Daisy and Ogden’s father, and their mother Andrea’s husband — saw Phipps Stable to a 2013 victory with another thoroughbred, Orb.
“Because of the two of them, we’ve kept this going,” said the younger Ogden Phipps, referring to his parents. “Very thankful we did. It was never an option not to. This is in our blood.”
Their father was known as “Dinny,” and Dinny’s grandmother was Mrs. Henry Carnegie Phipps, who founded Wheatley Stable in 1926, USA Today said.
Wheatley Stable owned Bold Ruler — Secretariat’s father.