Run for the roses

May 05, 2008 08:59 am

— By Sean Bailey / staff writer
The final running of the Central Primary School Derby Day took place on Friday, and besides a few horseshoe problems (untied tennis shoes) the races went off without a hitch.
Spectators poured out of the school and participants were asked to sit “criss-cross apple sauce” in the infield of the track while principal Amon Couch reminded all the jockeys that this version of the derby was about fun and not winning. He also asked the jockeys to stay safe.
The jockeys and their horses lined up according to class and gender — filly or colt — and raced around the bus area in front of the school. The jockeys happen to also be second-graders at Central, and their horses are home-made and come in all sorts of shapes — one filly even resembled the Disney character Hannah Montana.

“My horse is named Thunderbolt, a lot of people named theirs Thunderbolt, I’m not sure who was first,” Austin Yates said, “But he’s a thoroughbred stallion.”
Yates said he was hopeful that he and the horse would do well.
Second-grade teacher Debbie Prewitt said the annual derby event is the culmination of a unit on the horse industry.
“We teach all the facts about the horses, the history of the race, and a lot of the racing terms. We make jockey silks and Derby hats ... we even make our own “horse feed” and mint juleps, which are made out of sherbet of course. We try to get the whole experience,” Prewitt said.
Prewitt said students who wanted to participate in the race made their own “horses.” Most were fashioned out of broom-sticks and socks.
“I’ve been doing this for 12 or 15 years now, and I have to say they get more creative each year,” Prewitt said.
Some of the students were even decked out in racing jerseys with riding whips and helmets. A few of the girl students and women teachers were wearing large derby hats.
Prewitt said she wasn’t sure where the derby would take place next year at the new primary school. Central has a large circular “island” where buses stop which makes a perfect infield for the race. No matter where the race takes place the event will continue with next year’s second-graders.

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