Horse Names

It’s not always easy to name a horse. Some owners “cop out”, using an unimaginative combo of the sire and dam. Others try a clumsy mix of owners’ names – think Makybe Diva.

Some “luck in” – legend has it that, after 99 rejections, Century was submitted and he became a track and stud star with a brilliant name to match. But what about a horse like Son of Raniera (out of Raniera)? Why would you?

My Dad used to reckon that there was no such thing as a bad name for a good horse. I disagree.

As you pore over the fields in the next month, keep an eye out for the good and the bad and share them on this thread.

To kick it off, go back to the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield yesterday for 2 cracking examples of cleverly named horses.

Comments

  1. I recall a horse called Norma Stits. The name got through initially but was later banned. I think it got banned when a caller said at the start of the race:

    “Norma Stits bounced out well……………”

  2. David Downer says

    Great topic Crio.

    The most cleverly named horse recently is the Riewoldt/Gehrig owned gelding Our Baby Bonus – sired by Dash for Cash out of Mother To Be.

    The stayer Richard Cranium always caused a chuckle in the late 90’s, he actually won some decent races.

    Crabs is an interesting name of a current horse.

    I dislike the recent trend of multiple words shoved together to create a name, like last weeks Guineas runner “Ilovethiscity”, and from Sunday’s Cranbourne Cup “Makeadreamcometrue”.

  3. Great timing David. I was just telling young Tom about Our Baby Bonus – also part owned by Stuart Wigney.

  4. Peter Flynn says

    From the Punter to Punter troupe circa 1985:
    Koiro Corrie Mae by Coitus Interruptus out of May I Come Back Later.

    I remember a horse called Shaterden and the caller saying Shaterden and it has!

    I’m childishly amused whenever Crabs is scratched from a race.

    The caller at Mildura one day got very excited when Sister I’m Coming stormed down the outside to collect the cash.

    The famous American caller Tom Durkin calling of Arrrrrr to victory is a classic.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI2ZZXv_5Kc

    Also his call of Doremifasollatido.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a3sdADaf5U&feature=related

    Dips, I reckon there might have been a conveyance called Hoof Hearted.

  5. Peter Flynn says

    From the Punter to Punter troupe circa 1985:
    Koiro Corrie Mae by Coitus Interruptus out of May I Come Back Later.

    I remember a horse called Shaterden and the caller saying Shaterden and it has!

    I’m childishly amused whenever Crabs is scratched from a race.

    The caller at Mildura one day got very excited when Sister I’m Coming stormed down the outside to collect the cash.

    The famous American caller Tom Durkin calling of Arrrrrr to victory is a classic.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI2ZZXv_5Kc

    Also his call of Doremifasollatido.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a3sdADaf5U&feature=related

    Dips, I reckon there might have been a conveyance called Hoof Hearted.

  6. The first of the clever names from yesterday’s Gr 1 has one of those multinamesyoudislike, David.
    It is Alittlebitofmonica…out of Political Pet (by Bureaucracy)…fortunately not in a close photo…too many easy lines that might not be suitable for this site!!!

    I guess Divirces, by Domesday out of Family Breakup, is another good ‘un from the same race.

    But there is a far better one (thanks to Elvis’ correspondence) that I’ll unveil later if you don’t find it first.

  7. David Downer says

    Yes I did note there were two of those multinamegeegees in the Guineas yesterday. Alittlebitofmonica that you mention, based on breeding, I’ll pay that, very clever! The other one, Heartsareforlove, ehh, not so keen.

    I’m guessing the other one to which you refer is either…
    Sistine Angel – by Testa Rossa from Famous Painter, or
    Brazilian Pulse – by Captain Rio (Crio??)

  8. They would not let a Tasmanian orchardist register his horse as “Geevston Fannie” in the early 1970’s

    Beautiful crisp red skinned, white fleshed juicy sweet southern Tasmanian apple.

  9. Dave Nadel says

    I always liked the name of the New Zealand horse Waikikamukau. I looked up the spelling and Wikipedia tells me that it is used in New Zealand as the term for “any town” the way Aussies would use “Woop Woop.”

  10. Bandiwallop as well Dave.

  11. The outstandingly named filly from the Thousand Guineas (thx Elvis for the tip-off weeks ago), is RINGA RINGA ROSIE.
    This seems a humdrum, though melodic, name until you do two things…
    1- note she is by Bradbury’s Luck
    2- sing the Nursery Rhyme…right to the end.
    Classic!

  12. dave latham says

    How about something humble like Jesus the Horse?

  13. I always thought it would be nice to have “Then Coming” and “Followed By” alternating positions throughout a race.

  14. #11 – possibly not allowed.
    I remember a horse named Mohammed a few years back which was then altered to Hammed.

  15. dave latham says

    What about ‘crucifix: the horse formerly known as Jesus’?

  16. Djarindjin Jerker says

    Dad always told the story about the country galloper, Blue Ezarzoff. Don’t know if it was an urban myth, but as a youngster at the racetrack, would check the form guides to see if it was running. As an eight year old at the time, I found it very funny….

  17. #14 – Is that Dave Latham or are we channelling Dave Allan?

    Djarindjin, Bluey in popular culture had a brother Bernie amongst other siblings.

  18. Crio,

    Love Ringa Ringa Rosie!

    I always thought Love’N Leave (Don Juan – Shoplifter) was one of the best named I had heard.

    Shoplifter (by Robber Prince) also had other well-named progeny including Crime of Passion (by Hartbalm), Kleptomaniac (by Always There) and Prison Bound (by Aurilandy)

  19. Melbourne Cup winners Light Fingers and Red Handed were both by a sire called LE FILOU, which is French for pickpocket.

  20. A current one I like is DECISION TIME
    I initially thought it was a bad response to having to put in a name; then I saw the breeding…
    by Foreplay out of Daunting Thought!

  21. Individually not great names but one day (and this is absolutely true), the following horses appeared in the same race at Kilmore as consecutive numbers:

    THE GIRLFRIEND
    WOODEN SWALLOW

  22. Breeding please Budge?
    Obviously not related to Alittlebitofmonica (out of Political Pet).

  23. Crio,

    A horse cleverly named on all levels that raced last year is “Absolute Soda” by Not A Single Doubt from Effervesence.

  24. Crio and Budge,

    What about Allez Bien.

  25. Goes well!

  26. Again, nothing to do with the breeding. It was always humour when a punter would come up and pronounce it phonetically rather than the French.

  27. A good one that runs tomorrow and was heavily supported last start is DYSPHONIA.
    Dysphonia is the medical term for disorders of the voice…not exact, but clever enough for a daughter of Stutter.

  28. I always loved VAIN as a great name for an absolute speed machine.

  29. Needed progeny like Arrogant or, even better, Narcissus !

  30. THE FOP and EGO were a couple of well named of Vain’s progeny

  31. No FIGJAM?

  32. Let me check

  33. Horse Name YOB Sire Name Dam Name
    Fig Jam (NZ) 2004 Pentire (GB) Rebecca Rush (NZ)
    Figjam (GB) 2003 Groom Dancer (USA) Sheila’s Secret (IRE)
    Fig Jam (NZ) 1991 St. Hilarion (USA) Tredia (NZ)
    Fig Jam (AUS) 1990 Rare Again (AUS) Tod Honey (AUS)

    Nothing there!

  34. OK

  35. What about Depingsaregone?
    Legend had it that the trainer had his golf clubs stolen from his car on the morning they were
    to submit names for approval .

  36. Thanks to Elvis for this outstanding text tonight which I fwd for your enjoyment…
    “Found one well named. By Mossman from Sassy Soda called CALLENDERSNITEMARE.”
    Kenny’s tongue would be cut to ribbons on that pedigree.

  37. Nice one in the last at Werribee’s Cup Day today; by Foreplay, BEATAROUNDTHEBUSH

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