Ballard High School student wins Grand Prize in Kentucky Derby Museum's 40th annual art competition
Horsing Around With Art is the museum's longest-running education program
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (February 3, 2026) – The Kentucky Derby Museum is thrilled to announce the Grand Prize Winner of its 40th annual Horsing Around With Art (HAWA) competition, sponsored by WinStar Farm and Churchill Downs. Savanah Webb, a senior at Ballard High School, created a piece called My Old Kentucky Home, showcasing a Derby-winning moment to clinch the competition's top prize.
Museum leaders and representatives from Ballard surprised Savanah Tuesday morning with the exciting news, along with one dozen roses. Savanah's winning artwork will be framed and displayed at the museum for one year. In addition to this recognition, Savanah will receive a Spring Race Day Experience prize package sponsored by Churchill Downs and Ballard's art department will be awarded $500 for art supplies.
In total, the museum will award $6,200 in prizes to winning schools’ art departments this year.
"Horsing Around With Art is our longest-running education program at the museum," said Patrick Armstrong, President and CEO of Kentucky Derby Museum. "This is our way, decade after decade, of supporting the arts in local schools with a focus on the Kentucky Derby. It speaks volumes that this program has now continued 40 years as generations have participated and become part of museum history."
In the past decade, local students have submitted more than 2,000 pieces of artwork for this contest. The museum has awarded more than $80,000 to winning schools since 2014.
“In its 40th year, Horsing Around with Art remains a landmark community outreach program for the Kentucky Derby Museum," said Chris Goodlett, Senior Director of Curatorial and Education at the museum. "The hundreds of pieces received annually serve as a reminder that the Kentucky Derby is just around the corner, and participating students share work that both impresses and inspires.”
The Grand Prize is presented to the student whose artwork best embodies the essence of the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson praised Savanah's artwork, saying, "This piece of art captures the spirit and the pageantry of the Kentucky Derby with intricate details highlighting fashion, red roses and the connection with the equine athlete. It's a creative and beautiful piece, highlighting Kentucky's iconic race."
This year’s competition attracted an impressive 235 submissions from students ranging from elementary to high school, representing 38 local schools. The entries, showcasing a variety of artistic styles and mediums, are now on display on the museum’s second floor through April 9. Visitors can view the exhibit with general admission to the museum.
The Kentucky Derby Museum congratulates Savanah and all the talented students who participated in this year’s competition, celebrating the vibrant spirit of Derby and the power of artistic expression. Participating students and winners will be celebrated during a special ceremony at the Kentucky Derby Museum in early March.
The museum would like to recognize and thank the following panel of judges for their participation in the competition: Patrick Armstrong, KDM President & CEO; Mike Anderson, Churchill Downs Racetrack President; WinStar Farm; Jenny Pfanenstiel, KDM Featured Milliner; Rickelle Nelson, KDM Horsemen Relations and Central Scheduler; Kathy Bloch, KDM Outriders Volunteer Program Member; Judy Bortner, KDM Outriders Volunteer Program Member; Barb Harris, KDM Outriders Volunteer Program Member; Russell Saunders, KDM Outriders Volunteer Program Member; Rachel Singel, Artist; Liz Richter, Artist; Anna Blake, Curatorial Assistant, KMAC; Joanna Miller, Director of Education, KMAC; Jessica Whitehead, Senior Curator of Collections, KDM.
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MEDIA NOTE: This Dropbox link provides photos of the surprise at Ballard High School. All images require a courtesy for Kentucky Derby Museum.
