Many incredible horses have earned their place in racing history. Their achievements have had us on the edge of our seats and filled us with awe, excitement, and joy. Secretariat, Man o’ War, Red, Rum, and Seabiscuit are just a few that roll off the tongue. Of course, many race fans place bets based on form, weight, and ground; however, many bets have been placed on a name, too. But how exactly did these famous horses get their names?
Naming a Horse
Every Thoroughbred must be registered before its first start. That means informing the Jockey Club, which maintains the American Stud Book, of the horse’s name. However, there are a few rules to consider.
Naming Rules:
- Names cannot consist of only initials or be comprised entirely of numbers.
- Owners cannot use names of living persons without written permission.
- Owners cannot use names on the Jockey Club’s Permanent list, such as those in racing’s Hall of Fame.
- Owners must avoid names that are currently active either in racing or breeding.
- Owners cannot use the names of winners of grade one stakes races over the last 25 years.
- Owners cannot reuse the names of horses by the same sire or out of the same dam as the foal.
Secretariat (1970-1989)
Secretariat was a champion American thoroughbred racehorse who became only the ninth winner of the American Triple Crown and the first to achieve it in 25 years. Incredibly, he holds the fastest time record in all three races, and won the Belmont Stakes by a record-breaking 31 lengths.
Winner of five Eclipse Awards, including Horse of the Year honors twice, Secretariat is regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of all time and was nominated to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1974.
Surprisingly, Secretariat was unnamed for over a year after five earlier submissions were turned down by the Jockey Club. In the end, the Meadow Stable’s secretary, Elizabeth Ham, was successful at the sixth attempt when she chose a name based on one of her previous careers.
Red Rum (1965-1995)
The mighty Red Rum is best known for his legendary Grand National victories. The three-time winner joined the horse racing greats after triumphs in 1973, 1974, and 1977. Incredibly, he also came second in 1975 and 1976.
Red Rum came from the Rossenarra Stud in County Kilkenny, Ireland. His named by Breeder Martyn McEnery, who used the last three letters of the sire and dam’s name to come up with Red Rum. The rest, as they say, is history.
Smarty Jones (2001-Present)
Co-owner Pat Chapman wanted a name to honor her late mother, so Smarty Jones was named after Milly “Smarty Jones” McNair. Not only did they share a birthday, but Chapman also claimed the two had similar traits.
Smarty Jones went on to become one of the best-loved horses in racing, appealing both to hardcore fans and those with only passing interest. This captivation stems from the thoroughbred winning eight of his nine career starts, which included the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. He was also voted the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-year-old male and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Seabiscuit (1933-1947)
It’s almost impossible to talk about the history of horse racing without the name Seabiscuit being mentioned. Foaled in 1933 in Kentucky, he was named after his father, Hard Tack, which is another name for a sea biscuit.
A champion thoroughbred horse, Seabiscuit, was voted American Horse of the Year for 1938. Winning 11 of his 15 career races, he was the top money-winning racehorse in the USA in 1937.
Foolish Pleasure (1972-1994)
The winner of the Kentucky Derby in 1975, Foolish Pleasure, won the Eclipse Award as a 2-year-old. He also went on to win both the Donn Handicap and the Suburban Handicap.
Foaled in Williston, Florida, he is the son of What a Pleasure and the mare Fool Me Not. Foolish Pleasure was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1995.
Preakness (1867-1881)
Bought in 1868 by Milton H. Sanford for $2,000, Preakness was named after the two farms he owned in Kentucky and New Jersey. It is a Native American word for “quail woods.”
A hugely successful racing career saw him win the Dinner Party Stakes, Saratoga Cup, Long Branch Stakes, Westchester Cup and many more.
Preakness famously gave his name to the legendary Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the highly coveted Triple Crown, after winning the Dinner Party Stakes at the Baltimore track in its opening year.
American Pharaoh (2012-Present)
A memorable name that was inspired by his sire, Pioneer of the Nile, and his dam’s sire, Yankee Gentleman. It’s also claimed that the name is a nod to its owners’ Egyptian American heritage.
The horse cemented his place in history by becoming only the 12th horse to ever win the Triple Crown, ending a 37-year-long wait. He also won the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2015, becoming the first horse to ever win the modern Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing.
Tips for Naming a Horse
- Check the breed association’s regulations to ensure you comply with the naming rules.
- Think about how easy the name is to pronounce.
- Consider using aspects of a horse’s parents’ names.
- Check out the Jockey Clubs’ searchable online book of names.