What's in a (Horse) Name? No More Than 18 Characters

By Scott Allen |
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Picking a name for a newborn can be an agonizing process for parents, but it's a whole lot easier than naming a racehorse. While Thoroughbred owners may not have to worry about the risk of subjecting their foals to ridicule on the playground, they must select names that sound good when shouted but that also meet strict guidelines. Here's an overview of the naming process and an explanation behind the names of some of the horses in Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

The Jockey Club

Since 1894, the Jockey Club has been charged with maintaining The American Stud Book, a registry of all Thoroughbreds foaled in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, as well as Thoroughbreds imported into those countries. North American breeders register approximately 37,000 Thoroughbreds each year and the Jockey Club has an online database of more than 430,000 names in active use, all of which must first be approved by the organization's censors.

One of the most common naming conventions is to combine the names of the foal's sire and dam. For instance, 1995 Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch was the son of Gulch and Line of Thunder. A cleverer example of this sort is the name Inside Information, which was derived from Private Account and Pure Profit. Of the roughly 60,000 name requests submitted annually, about one-third are rejected because they fall into one or more of the Jockey Club's 15 classes of names that are strictly forbidden.

The Guidelines

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In an interview with NPR, Jockey Club registrar Rick Bailey said he once received written permission on White House letterhead granting permission for an owner to register a horse named Barbara Bush. In 2005, the Jockey Club rejected an owner's request to name his horse Sally Hemmings after Thomas Jefferson's slave and reputed mistress. The owner claimed the name was meant to honor Hemmings and filed suit, but the Jockey Club's decision was upheld by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. Today, there's no shortage of political statements being made on the tracks, with registered horses named Obama's Promises, George Dubya, Palin Power, and McCain. Names of horses that win major races are retired permanently, while all other names may be recycled over time.

Slipping Through the Cracks

With as many names as the Jockey Club reviews, it's no surprise that some questionable names have found their way onto racing forms. Slate took an amusing look at some of the racier names that slipped past the Jockey Club's reviewers. Among them: Blow Me (1945), Spank It (1985), Date More Minors (1998), Bodacious Tatas (1985), Sexual Harassment (1997), and "“ say it aloud "“ Hardawn (1937). "It's difficult with the use of some words that meant something 20 years ago may mean something totally different with the MTV generation," Bailey told NPR. There's also Hoochiecoochiemama (1989), Panty Raid (2004), Thong Thong Thong (1989), Thong or Panties (2004), and, because the Jockey Club is an equal opportunity registry, Boxers or Briefs (2007). While it's hardly dirty, a horse named Mental Floss was registered in 2001.

Fusaichi Who?

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• Big Brown: The 2008 Kentucky Derby winner was named after UPS, which allowed its trademark of the moniker to expire in 2005. Big Brown's owner, Paul Pompa Jr., was a trucking company owner and said the horse's name honored UPS's renewal of a contract with his firm. UPS, in turn, agreed to a sponsorship deal and the value of the Derby exposure for the company was estimated at $4 million.

• Giacomo: The 2005 Kentucky Derby winner was named for the son of recording artist Sting, who worked with A&M records co-founder and Giacamo's breeder Jerry Moss.

• Seattle Slew: The 1977 Triple Crown winner was named after his owners' two hometowns, Seattle and a soggy area in Florida, where a swamp is often called a slew.

• Secretariat: Elizabeth Ham, the secretary for the stables where the 1973 Triple Crown winner was born, had submitted 10 names to the Jockey Club, all of which were denied. Ham's 11th submission was finally approved.

• Seabiscuit: A sea biscuit is the name of a type of cracker eaten by sailors known as hardtack. Seabiscuit's father was named Hard Tack.

• War Admiral: The 1937 Triple Crown winner was the offspring of Man "˜o War and Brushup.

• Burgoo King: Foaled near Lexington, Ky., the 1932 Kentucky Derby winner was named for a local grocer who was famous for his burgoo stew.

The 2009 Kentucky Derby Field

While Saturday's Kentucky Derby field doesn't include any names that are likely to make you blush, there are some good stories behind some of these monikers. Papa Clem, one of the favorites, is named after owner Bo Hirsch's late father, Clement Hirsch, a legendary owner in California until his death in 2000. West Side Bernie, a son of the stallion Bernstein, is named after West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein. Mr. Hot Stuff's name was inspired by the owner's son-in-law, who once wore a flamboyant ski outfit that included a pink hat that read, "Hot Stuff." The outfit could make an appearance at Churchill Downs this weekend. Mine That Bird is the son of Birdstone and Mining My Own. And finally, Chocolate Candy's breeder is none other than diet guru Jenny Craig.