Toby Keith 's family was in the stands to root on his horse at the Kentucky Derby on Saturday (May 3). The late singer's wife Tricia Lucas walked the red carpet at Lexington's Churchill Downs before the big race, alongside her daughter Shelley and son Stelen.

The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby had at least two direct connections to music: Render Judgment was co-owned by late country singer Toby Keith and Sandman was named by a pair of Metallica superfans, who welcomed “Enter Sandman” howler James Hetfield to Churchill Downs to meet the Thoroughbred on Friday.

Keith named one of the horses Render Judgment, which is set to compete in the May 3 race. Keith died after a long battle with stomach cancer. Despite Keith’s passing, Render Judgment made his late owner’s dream come true by making the 2025 Kentucky Derby .