The Kentucky Derby is rich with tradition.

Today, another tradition played out as the winner of the Kentucky Derby Museum's annual horsing around with Art contest was announced.

This year's winner is a student from Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Louisville.

Our Kentucky Edition team was there as the grand prize winner was announced.

By K.C.

Armstrong for the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Congratulations.

You are the grand prize winner of the Horsing Around with Art Contest for 2025.

Thank you.

It was far from a normal Monday morning for Casey Shackleford, a sophomore at Pleasure Ridge Park High School.

Because I don't think I could do it.

So I guess even if you can't think you can do it, you can still try to do it.

I don't know, because I didn't think I could do it at all.

And I didn't think it looked good at all either.

But I guess everybody else did.

A panel of judges chose her art as capturing the spirit of the Kentucky Derby.

She won the grand prize out of 255 entries across 37 different schools in grades one through 12.

All of the entries are now on display at the Kentucky Derby Museum through April 18th.

But Casey's piece will remain there for an entire year.

She probably doesn't realize the scope.

So last year, we had record attendance at the museum.

258,000 visitors from across the world came to the museum last year.

And that's not to Churchill Downs.

That's actually in our doors at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

So that's a lot of eyes that's going to see this work.

It'd be nice to see there and nice to see it all around like all the other people and think I was like, wow, I didn't think I was going to ever be there.

She calls it the final furlong.

This piece is inspired by the most anticipated part of the Kentucky Derby, the final furlong.

The crowd shouts wildly in anticipation as the racers are near the finish line.

The winner is determined.

The riders and their horses are focused on their prize.

Her prize also includes a spring raceday experience package from Churchill Downs and PRP High School's art department gets $500 to go toward new art supplies.

The Derby is a spirit of this community and it's it's a special event that no other cities can claim.

And for the entire community, the education community, along with the adult community, embraces the derby like no other.

And it's heartwarming to see all the work that comes out from these kids each year.

And the work seems to get better every year.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Kelsey Starks.