When a buddy and I started investing in thoroughbreds in 2018, it wasn’t fantasies of working within the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness Stakes that excited us most. It was naming the racehorses. We’d seen California Chrome and American Pharoah etch their names within the sports activities lexicon. And whereas producing a horse of that caliber was a longshot, simply the prospect of the announcer yelling, “Right here comes [name we chose] down the stretch!” was unexpectedly thrilling.
This weekend’s Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, options some elite thoroughbreds, and even some higher names. Journalism, the favorite, has arguably one of the best identify within the subject. American Promise has apparent American Pharoah vibes and was sired by 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify—one other iconic moniker.
On identify alone, I’d put my cash on Sandman.
And whereas betting on the horse with one of the best identify is the equal of my 10-year-old daughter rooting for the Miami Dolphins as a result of their uniforms are fairly, for a distinct segment sport that turns into the middle of the sports activities world for six weeks within the spring, generally the identify is all we’ve bought.
For house owners to decide on a reputation value rooting for, there are some tips—and guidelines—to observe.
The Fundamentals
All racehorses are given the start date of January 1 of the yr they have been born, no matter their precise birthday. Then, the clock begins ticking. House owners should give their horses an official, registered identify by February of their second yr, or face late registration charges from horse racing’s administrative hub, The Jockey Club.
Earlier than receiving their official monikers, these anonymous thoroughbreds are usually referred to by mixtures of their sire and dam’s names (their father and mom) together with an outline. As an illustration, the horse As Time Goes By was beforehand often called “bay mare by American Pharoah out of Take Cost Woman.” Generally they go by simply the dam’s identify and the start yr—“2020 chestnut gelding out of Dawn Glow.” Sort of like how COVID-19 got its name, or how scientists would identify a newly found planet.
House owners should submit six totally different identify choices to The Jockey Membership for consideration, every of which should observe the membership’s particular guidelines.
The Science
Racehorse naming follows strict tips. Earlier than Twitter, horse racing featured the unique character restrict. Names can’t exceed 18 characters, together with areas and punctuation. This explains compact names like Shutthefrontdoor and Keepmeinmind. Moreover, names are restricted to seven syllables, with 2003 Kentucky Derby contender Atswhatimtalkinbout pushing character, syllable, and pronunciation limits to the intense.
Utilizing initials can also be prohibited, as are numbers—until spelled out, as exhibited by 1988 Derby runner-up Forty Niner.
Horse-related phrases like filly, colt, mare, and stallion are additionally forbidden, as are official course and race titles. Names with apparent business worth are additionally instantly rejected. No person needs to see a horse named Coca-Cola or TikTok main the sector down the stretch.
The artwork
Uniqueness is nonnegotiable. No horse can share a reputation with one other at present racing or one which has raced or bred within the earlier 10 years. For stallions, the identify safety extends to fifteen years after they’ve stopped breeding, whereas winners of Grade 1 stakes races—the very best echelon of the game—are protected for 25 years. And similar to sports activities groups retire jersey numbers, names like Secretariat, Man o’ Warfare, and Seattle Slew are perpetually on the restricted listing and might by no means be reused. To test a reputation’s availability, house owners can confirm it in opposition to the Jockey Club registry.
Private names are additionally difficult. A horse can’t be named after a well-known individual or somebody who’s been useless for lower than 50 years with out written permission from them or their household. I realized this firsthand once I tried to call one among our horses Mookie Blaylock as an ode to Pearl Jam, which the band used as its original name earlier than altering it, and was knowledgeable I wanted permission, which wasn’t definitely worth the hassle.
One of the vital well-known tales of a celebrity-named horse got here in 1991, when then-First Woman Barbara Bush gave her written consent to the proprietor of a filly out of Kentucky to make use of her identify, however the horse made solely two begins and earned just $102 in winnings.
Lastly, the Jockey Membership strictly prohibits vulgar, obscene, or offensive names. Beforehand rejected names embrace Ben Dover and Couch King Quick, although often, some—like Hoof Hearted—slip previous the censors.
The craft
Informal and seasonal horse racing lovers keep in mind names like California Chrome and Smarty Jones, each Derby winners.
However who remembers Orb, or Mage?
Each additionally gained the Derby, however their names don’t encourage, so that they’re largely forgotten.
To craft a novel, memorable identify that bettors need to root for, many homeowners look to their horse’s bodily traits. A foal with a particular scar would possibly earn a boxing-related identify like Haymaker, turning an imperfection right into a memorable identification. The most typical custom is incorporating the mother and father’ names, like a nominal household tree, as 2023 Derby contender Tapit Trice did when it mixed sire Tapit with dam Danzatrice (Italian for ballerina), creating a reputation that honors each bloodlines.
The largest breeders have extra refined racehorse naming methods. Susan Magnier, who names the racehorses at Coolmore within the UK, reserves grand names for his or her most promising colts. The identify Camelot was saved in her diary for nearly 10 years earlier than a worthy horse emerged. That horse went on to win six of the ten races he began throughout Eire and Nice Britain in 2011–13, doing the moniker justice.
From Bananas on Fireplace to Sandman
My accomplice and I had 4 horses to call. One identify I’ve already forgotten, because it was given to a forgettable horse. One other we dubbed Artillery—robust, singular, and assertive. A 3rd we named Queen Karma. We preferred the implied royalty mixed with the mysticism and alliteration.
However the identify that caught the attention of bettors and emerged as one of the best within the steady was Bananas on Fire, a nod to our favourite beer from an area Lake Oswego brewery. Hardly Secretariat or Seabiscuit, nevertheless it was enjoyable. Which is the place many homeowners land.
Whereas there’s no Bananas on Fireplace on this weekend’s Preakness, we do have Journalism. We’ve got River Thames, Purpose Oriented, and Pay Billy. Sovereignty, one other robust identify, gained the Derby however gained’t be working the Preakness, so there’s no shot at a Triple Crown this yr. So if we’re occurring identify alone, even with Journalism locked in as the favourite, I’ll nonetheless put my cash on one of the best identify within the subject.
Give me Sandman.
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