Many, many years ago when I was in jr. high, my mother trained a gelding that I adored, and have to this day, he is 24yrs old. I threw such a fit if they even thought about going to the track to run him without me. So on race days, at the same time, my teacher would get a call saying for me to come to the office I had a dentist appt. I dont know if the principle ever looked outside and saw the truck and trailer, but my classroom at that time of the day was facing the road and the teacher would look up and say "Umm Elise, your dentist appt is here", then as I was leaving she would smile and say "Good luck at the dentist, and put $2.00 on his nose for me".
I also missed Sr. Prom and Homecomming because we had horses running. I was late for my high school graduation because we had a colt running in a Fut. in TX and didnt want to miss it. Got to the auditorium about 10 people before my name was called, but it was worth it cause we won the Futurity.