A Trainer's Long Road to Derby Glory

In the world of horse racing, the Kentucky Derby is the ultimate test of a trainer's skill, patience, and luck. Bill Mott, now in his 70s, has seen it all. His journey started way back in 1967, when he was just a teenager listening to the Derby on an AM radio in his hometown of Fort Pierce. That day, Proud Clarion won the race, and young Bill was hooked. Mott's love for racing led him to convince his dad, a veterinarian, to buy him a racehorse. They turned a pasture into a training track, and Mott won his first race before even graduating from high school. This early success set the stage for a career filled with hard work, perseverance, and a touch of good fortune. The Kentucky Derby is not just about the glamour and the glory. It's about the early mornings, the long hours, and the tough breaks. Mott knows this better than anyone. He spent years in the shadows, training horses that weren't always the best, and winning races that didn't always pay much. But he kept at it, driven by a dream that seemed out of reach. In 2019, Mott finally got a taste of Derby victory with Country House. But it was a bittersweet win, as the horse crossed the finish line second but was later declared the winner after a disqualification. Mott wanted to know what it felt like to win the Derby the old-fashioned way, with his horse crossing the finish line first. And in 2025, he finally got his chance. Sovereignty, Mott's horse, won the 151st Kentucky Derby in a near-perfect ride. As the horse crossed the finish line first, Mott couldn't help but think back to that teenager listening to the radio. He had come a long way from Fort Pierce, and he had finally achieved his dream. Mott's journey to the Derby winner's circle was not an easy one. He had to overcome obscurity, bad luck, and even a disqualification. But he never gave up on his dream. And in the end, his hard work, perseverance, and a little bit of good fortune paid off. Mott's success with Sovereignty was not just about the horse. It was also about the jockey, Junior Alvarado. The two had a strong partnership, with Alvarado understanding the horse's strengths and weaknesses. Even when Alvarado was injured and had to watch from the sidelines, Mott stood by him, telling him that Sovereignty would be his when he returned. The Kentucky Derby is a big deal. It's the ultimate test of a trainer's skill, and it's a dream come true for anyone involved in the sport. But it's also a reminder that success doesn't come overnight. It takes hard work, perseverance, and a little bit of luck. And for Bill Mott, it took a lifetime of dreaming.