Family Discussion: Horses, Hats, and Headlines

The following article is designed to help parents dialogue about a current event with their children. It was written at a 7th grade reading level.

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This week celebrated equine and editorial excellence.

On Saturday, Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby in a stunning come-from-behind victory. The 23-1 long shot (jockeyed by José Ortiz) galloped past favorite Renegade (jockeyed by José’s brother, Irad Ortiz Jr.) in 2:02.27. Golden Tempo’s trainer, Cherie DeVaux, became the first female trainer to win the Derby. She’s only the second woman to win any Triple Crown race.

At 152 years, Run for the Roses is the U.S.’s longest-running sporting event. This year’s race drew a crowd of over 150,000 fancy-hat-wearing spectators.

Then, Monday, the Pulitzer Prize Board announced its 110th winners.

Pulitzer Prizes were established by newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer in 1917. He set aside money in his will to award outstanding work in journalism, book-writing, drama, and education. Now, they’re considered the highest honors in journalism.

The board awarded prizes in 23 categories, including reporting, photography, books, and music. Awards went to:

• The Washington Post, which won the top “public service” prize for reports on DOGE and federal layoffs.

• The NYT, for stories investigating President Trump’s “moneymaking opportunities” like TrumpCoin and for photography of the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

• And a Texas reporter for his “personal account” of the July 2025 Central Texas floods.

CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE

While it’s fun to celebrate human (and horse) achievements, it’s important to remember that all the trophies and prizes in the world are worth nothing compared to the value of knowing Jesus. He has achieved far more for us—a right relationship with God forever—than we could ever achieve for ourselves.

REFLECT

What might my kids misunderstand about this story?

Big celebrations like the Kentucky Derby can feel a little… extra. It’s easy to wonder if a two-minute race really warrants all that pageantry, money, and excess.

While it’s wise to wonder how resources could be used best, we should avoid making the assumption that celebrations are always wrong or wasteful. The Scriptures are full of feasts, festivals, and celebrations where God’s people were encouraged to delight in community and abundance (Deuteronomy 16:13-15; Luke 15:22-32). The point is not to be as plain or simple as possible to avoid waste—it’s to know when celebration is in order and to do it with proper gusto.

What gospel lesson can be taught through this story?

It’s true that journalists can distort and hide the truth through bias or spin. But at its best, journalism can be truth-telling work that illuminates truth and exposes falsehood. When that happens, we should be the first in line to celebrate when truth wins—even if the truth-tellers don’t share our faith or if the truths exposed are hard for us to swallow.

After all, we are instructed: “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just… dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8 CSB)

RESPOND

• Celebrate as a family. Find something big or small—a goofy holiday, a school or work achievement, a birthday (or half-birthday, or quarter-birthday)—and make your joy tangible by throwing a celebration. It could be as small as circling up to share what you’re grateful for or as big as a block party!

• Memorize Philippians 4:8 “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable​—​if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy​—​dwell on these things” (CSB).

• Pray that both truth and joy would increase. Pray it for yourself, your home, your church, your neighborhood, your city, and beyond.

Credit: Decaf (The Pour Over for Families). "And They’re Off… to the Presses." May 7, 2026.