From JC Teacher Kim Temple with student teacher Mrs. Christie Stucker:

My 4th grade students recently had a “Kentucky Derby” Race. This was to celebrate our Accelerated Reader accomplishments.  It was awesome. The entire school attended. The stick horses were named after the last several winners of the Kentucky Derby. All students had to gallop after the race began and also had to line up at home plate before the start as they were “called to the post”! 

The winner was Cadence Smith and her horse was Giacomo (winner of the 2005 race).  Cadence won a “check” for 1.8 million dollars (the actual amount the winner gets) and a garland of “paper red roses”!