A day before the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, students at St. John’s Lutheran School Sauers got in the spirit with the KinDerby on Friday afternoon in the school gymnasium.

The seven kindergartners in Leanna Royalty’s class made their own horses to race using pool noodles or mops and decorate them. They raced three laps around the gym.

The other students at the school dressed for the occasion by either making their own paper hats, binoculars or bow ties or wearing colorful dresses, hats or bow ties.

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