Thirteen-year-old London Montgomery is new to the horse racing industry, but she’s already got her eyes on a Kentucky Derby win.

“I’ve always loved horses,” Montgomery said. “About a year ago my dad said that we would have horses on our farm when I was 12. Then a trailer came and we had a mare, a filly, and a colt.”

London and California Chrome (Taylor Gilkey/Taylor Made)

The Montgomery family lives next door to Taylor Made Farm in rural Nicholasville, Ky.

“We pass by Taylor Made to get to our house,” Montgomery said. “The mare had to be bred back again so we came over and we picked out a stallion to breed our mare to.”

London’s father Matt Montgomery let his daughter take the lead on the breeding decision. “It was her choice on California Chrome. When he came out of that stall she said, ‘That one!’”

At 12 years old London signed the breeding contract for her mare, Runaway Renee, to be bred to Taylor Made Stallions’ California Chrome in 2018. “It was pretty extraordinary because not many kids my age get to do something like that,” she said.

On March 22, 2019, the Montgomery family made the short drive to Taylor Made Farm for the birth of a leggy chestnut colt, sired by two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome. Like his dad, the colt has a chestnut coat, four white socks, and a blaze on his face.

London has high hopes for her future in racing. “I really want to win the Derby. That’s been a goal of mine for a pretty long time now.”