# Racehorse naming traditions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [October 3, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165 "2006-10-03T22:41:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/1 "2006-10-03T22:41:37Z")
Wow, by our very own **EddyTeddYFreddy**! The funny thing is as I was reading it I was thinking, wow, I bet ETF has a lot to say about it. Thanks, **ETF** , fascinating - I’d always wondered myself, since I went to the track the very first time this year. Obligatory link: [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mhorsename.htm](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mhorsename.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/2 "2006-10-04T01:21:26Z")
A hearty Wooo-Hooo! to **ETF**. A fine job. Nicely written with a touch of humor. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/3 "2006-10-04T02:09:07Z")
[QUOTE=Rhubarb] A hearty Wooo-Hooo! to **ETF**. A fine job. Nicely written with a touch of humor. [/QUOTE] :: blush :: Thanks. I tried to model my style upon our Perfect Master’s. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/4 "2006-10-04T02:21:48Z")
I add my congrats to **EddyFreddyTeddy** on another brilliant job. Well done! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/5 "2006-10-04T03:02:28Z")
One slight amplification: in thoroughbred racing, the only punctuation mark allowed is an apostrophe. Also, can anyone confirm whether the horse “Cunning Stunt” ever got past the Jockey Club? I do know there was a horse in the 70s called “Brett’s Best Bet,” which caused embarassment to one track announce who accidentally spoonerized it into “Breast . . . Bet Bet.” ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/6 "2006-10-04T03:23:26Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] Also, can anyone confirm whether the horse “Cunning Stunt” ever got past the Jockey Club? [/QUOTE] The Jockey Club? No. But the American Quarter Horse Association? [Yes.](http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/cunning+stunt) Please note an error in that database. The filly is listed as a Thoroughbred, and her sire was indeed of that breed. But her dam was a Quarter Horse. Cunning Stunt would therefore be registerable only as an Appendix Quarter Horse (i.e., a TB-QH cross), and could be advanced to full QH registration if she met certain qualifications, either in races won or in show points garnered. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/7 "2006-10-04T12:19:32Z")
Excellent piece, **ETF**. I always used to say that two things I never understood were the naming of bands and the naming of racehorses. Now, thanks to the SDMB, I have a handle on both. Now, maybe, someone can explain the naming of Rap Artists and of Anime Titles to me… ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/8 "2006-10-04T12:32:00Z")
Very interesting. Heh-heh…I had a boss who won a shitload of money on a horse named Drop Your Drawers. I wonder what the chain o’ names was on THAT one! ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/9 "2006-10-04T12:37:28Z")
I can only speak for the UK but another method of naming racehorses stems from an opportunity to advertise the owner’s business. This practice is rarely followed by blue chip companies. Larger organisations are more likely to sponsor races rather than enter into racehorse ownership. For the smaller enterprise it is by no means unusual. An example which springs to mind is the company jobs@pertemps, previously known as Pertemps Jobshop. This recruitment organisation placed several horses with trainer Martin Pipe (now retired) over the years including _Pertemps Network_ and _Mr. Pertemps_. I do not think this company advertises its wares in this way any more, although it does sponsor a series of races culminating in a final at the Cheltenham Festival in March. On a smaller scale there is a haulage company owned by Ed Weetman who promotes his company with horses such as _Weetmans Weigh_ and _Weetmans Wagon_. There is also a company in Yorkshire (Dispol) who are in the automotive refinishing business. There have been many horses named Dispol (_Dispol Foxtrot, Dispol Katie, Dispol Veleta_) and I would be surprised if these animals were not named for the owner’s business. Unfortunately I can’t connect the horse owner’s registered name with the company Dispol so this evidence is necessarily anecdotal. Finally, and about 30 years ago, a Mr. Fred Pontin owned a number of popular holiday camps in the UK. His advertising slogan was ‘Go Pontinental’, and he named one of his racehorses _Go Pontinental_. The horse was a better bet than the holiday camps. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/10 "2006-10-04T13:42:14Z")
I have just remembered an instance of an English Classic being won by an unnamed horse. The 1797 Derby winner is recorded as _unnamed, br c by Fidget_, the animal being a brown colt sired by _Fidget_. It is commonly referred to as _The Fidget colt_. This begs the question as to when the naming of racehorses became compulsory. I can’t find the answer. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/11 "2006-10-04T13:48:33Z")
Nice work **ETF**. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/12 "2006-10-04T16:17:37Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Very interesting. Heh-heh…I had a boss who won a shitload of money on a horse named Drop Your Drawers. I wonder what the chain o’ names was on THAT one! [/QUOTE] [Ask and ye shall receive.](http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/drop+your+drawers) Some very good bloodlines in that horse, including Man O’War on the dam’s side, Nasrullah twice, and Raise A Native. Thanks for the info, **Chez Guevara**! My article merely skimmed the surface of all the factors going into racehorse naming. Didn’t even get into naming customs and practices for a whole slew of other breeds, though the same forces in general are often involved. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/13 "2006-10-04T16:56:18Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] [Ask and ye shall receive.](http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/drop+your+drawers) Some very good bloodlines in that horse, including Man O’War on the dam’s side, Nasrullah twice, and Raise A Native. Thanks for the info, **Chez Guevara**! My article merely skimmed the surface of all the factors going into racehorse naming. Didn’t even get into naming customs and practices for a whole slew of other breeds, though the same forces in general are often involved. [/QUOTE] Thanks for that! That’s just about right, timing-wise. I worked for her in 80-81, I believe. Ain’t that somethin’? ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/14 "2006-10-04T20:38:26Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] Thanks for the info, **Chez Guevara**! My article merely skimmed the surface of all the factors going into racehorse naming. Didn’t even get into naming customs and practices for a whole slew of other breeds, though the same forces in general are often involved. [/QUOTE] I don’t want to give you the impression the article was lacking in any way. Far from it. It’s just that if I see a thread on horseracing I can’t help posting to it. I spent a good few minutes looking at the pedigree of Seabiscuit. There are several Epsom Derby winners in the bloodline - I counted about 7 without cheating. I was also interested to note that Seabiscuit is related to the great [St Simon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Simon_(horse)) on both sides. I look forward to your next report. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/15 "2006-10-11T14:12:26Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] Also, can anyone confirm whether the horse “Cunning Stunt” ever got past the Jockey Club? [/QUOTE] I replied on 10/3 that I’d found the horse on the Del Mar pedigree site. At that point I wasn’t able to get into the AQHA database to confirm it. Just did this morning, and whaddaya know? That’s a joke pedigree. AQHA’s records query came up “Horse does not exist.” I checked the dam (Jet Mist) given, and that’s a real QH, all right – only it’s listed as a stallion. I’ve notified the pedigree site of my findings. They’d already posted my correction about the filly being a QH rather than a TB. It should be interesting to see how much longer this pedigree survives. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/16 "2006-10-12T20:41:07Z")
So, when does **ETF** get his SDSAB tag? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/17 "2006-10-12T21:28:20Z")
[QUOTE=adam yax] So, when does **ETF** get his SDSAB tag? [/QUOTE] I’ve only done two articles so far. Probably takes more than that to vault into such exalted company. Said she. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/18 "2006-10-13T00:16:57Z")
Thanks for the article, **EddyTeddyFreddy**. If you happen to know, what makes a previously registered name become “inactive” and thus eligible for re-use? Does the owner report the horse dead or retired, or what? I’m asking because I looked up several horses that my late wife groomed or was a hotwalker for, and their names are either not there or (in one case) have been re-used. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/19 "2006-10-13T05:16:50Z")
[Here’s what the Jockey Club rules say:](http://www.jockeyclub.com/registry.asp?section=3#six) > [@](#): > > E. Names of horses over ten years old may be eligible [for use] if they are not excluded under Rule 6(F) and have not been used during the preceding five years either in breeding or racing. > > Names of geldings and horses that were never used for breeding or racing may be available five years from the date of their death as reported. > > F. The following classes of names are not eligible for use: > > [snip] > > # > > # 14. Names that are currently active either in the stud or on the turf, and names similar in spelling or pronunciation to such names, see 6(E); > > # 15. Permanent names and names similar in spelling or pronunciation to permanent names. The list of criteria to establish a permanent name is as follows: > > ``` > * a. Horses in racing's Hall of Fame; > * b. Horses that have been voted Horse of the Year; > * c. Horses that have won an Eclipse Award; > * d. Horses that have won a Sovereign Award (Canadian Champions); > * e. Annual leading sire and broodmare sire by progeny earnings; > * f. Cumulative money winners of $2 million or more; > * g. Horses that have won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes, The Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Breeders' Cup Classic or the Breeders' Cup Turf; and > * h. Horses included in the International List of Protected Names. > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165/20 "2006-10-16T01:27:05Z")
Thanks again. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racehorse-naming-traditions/375165.md?page=2)