# The Worst Race Name I Have Ever Seen. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 1, 2006, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-race-name-i-have-ever-seen/337905 "2006-01-01T00:24:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-race-name-i-have-ever-seen/337905/1 "2006-01-01T00:24:41Z")
For Dopers who don’t go to the horse races, a little background. Horse races generally have a name of some description. Not just a **Class 4 Handicap** but **The Straight Dope Handicap (Class 4)**. Most well known races have permanent names like the **Kentucky Derby** or are named after important racing figures or horses. In Australia the ordinary races at mundane meetings are named by sponsorship. It is a pretty generous deal. You put up a portion of the prizemoney and get a group of tickets, access to the members stand and naming rights for the race. Previously my favourite had been **The Flat Earth Society Handicap** held some years ago at Canterbury. Today a new favourite takes its place. Race one at Strathalbyn (South Australia) is the bewitchingly named **Seagull Droppings 3yo+ Maiden Plate**. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-race-name-i-have-ever-seen/337905/2 "2006-01-01T00:45:33Z")
It would be interesting to know the relationship between the race’s sponsor and the seagull droppings. Does the sponsor collect the droppings in some way for fertiliser? Or does it specialise in washing them off vehicles? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-race-name-i-have-ever-seen/337905/3 "2006-01-01T00:49:41Z")
“Seagull Droppings” is a [hotel???](http://www.hotelworldinternational.com/Accommodation_Details.aspx?Estid=103553) :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-race-name-i-have-ever-seen/337905/4 "2006-01-01T00:57:32Z")
… thought somebody was putting down “Amerafrican” again. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-race-name-i-have-ever-seen/337905/5 "2006-01-01T01:03:19Z")
> [@Ice Wolf](#): > > “Seagull Droppings” is a [hotel???](http://www.hotelworldinternational.com/Accommodation_Details.aspx?Estid=103553) :eek: I have to ask. What made you look it up? It never occurred to me that it **actually is** a business name. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-race-name-i-have-ever-seen/337905/6 "2006-01-01T01:04:39Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > I have to ask. What made you look it up? It never occurred to me that it **actually is** a business name. Because races in NZ are usually named after local businesses, last I knew. I kinda figured our cousins across the Ditch might follow the same pattern. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-race-name-i-have-ever-seen/337905/7 "2006-01-01T08:23:28Z")
> [@Ice Wolf](#): > > “Seagull Droppings” is a [hotel???](http://www.hotelworldinternational.com/Accommodation_Details.aspx?Estid=103553) :eek: Presumably a beach front one. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2006, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worst-race-name-i-have-ever-seen/337905/8 "2006-01-01T08:51:00Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > Presumably a beach front one. Heh! 😃