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You are here: Home / Racehorse Names

Racehorse Names

Coming up with good racehorse names is a fun endeavor. Your only limits are good taste and your own imagination. Let’s take a closer look.

Horses Racing is wildly popular, and there are almost one million thoroughbred racehorses in the U.S. alone. There are over two million owners, and approximately seven million people work in various aspects of the industry.

Horse racing can be traced to Ancient Greece, Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. It then spread to Europe and from there to North America. It is popular worldwide with horse racing in South American, Africa, and Asia as well. There are also several different styles of racing, Jump Racing or Steeple Chasing, Flat Track Racing, Saddle Trotting, Endurance Racing, and Harness Racing.

So, consider carefully when naming your horse; they are reflecting a long and rich history.

Horse Names.

How Do They Name Racehorses?

Regardless of their real birthday, all thoroughbreds are given a birthday of January 1. This allows age group horses to be easily grouped. A horse must be registered with The Jockey Club within one year of its actual birth. A blood sample must be provided to research D.N.A. and lineage. There must also be proof that the foal was not produced through artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization.

An owner may be charged a late fee if their horse has not been named by February of its second year. At least six names must be submitted in order of preference for each horse. A horse may be renamed for a fee if the horse has not raced or been bred. All names must be approved by The Jockey Club.

The Jockey Club has quite a few rules determining what you can not use for your horse’s name. No initials like I.O.U., no horse terms like mustang, colt, or filly, no names that are solely numbers, no names of actual people (unless the actual person has agreed), and no names ending in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.

But there are more, no names of racetracks or races, no commercial names like tradenames or trademarks, no offensive or vulgar names, and there is a restricted list of horse names that can not be used because of their significance. Many thoroughbreds use parts or references to their relatives to pay homage and get a little borrowed equity.

Famous Racehorse Names

Here is a list of some of the most revered thoroughbred racehorses to date:

Man o’ War

Born in 1917 in Kentucky, he won twenty out of his 21 races. He set three World Records and two American Records. He never raced in the Kentucky Derby, but his sire War Admiral won the Triple Crown.

Kelso

This horse’s claim to fame is that it beat more Hall of Fame horses than any other horse in the 20th century. He had one of the longest careers in the sport, racing for five years and winning the Horse of the Year in his fourth and fifth years.

Black Caviar

Undefeated in 25 of 25 races, Black Caviar was truly special. She hailed from Australia and ran mostly there apart from the 2012 U.K.’s Royal Ascot Diamond Jubilee Stakes, which she won.

Alydar

He would be at the top of the record books if he had not been born the same year as Affirmed. Alydar finished second in The Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes in 1975. He lost all three races to Affirmed.

John Henry

Another 1975 horse, John Henry won six and a half million in earnings. He won many significant races, including two Arlington Millions and a Santa Anita Handicap.

Skip Away

One of the winningest horses of all time, his total winning was almost ten million dollars. He was named Horse of the Year in 1998 as a five-year-old. He won The Jockey Club Gold Cup, Woodward Stakes, and the Breeder’s Cup.

Cigar

Another horse that won almost ten million dollars. He won the 1995 Breeder’s Cup Classic and four Eclipse Awards. He never raced in any of The Triple Crown Races because he had not made a start in a stakes race until September of his third year.

Kincsem

The only horse on the list coming from Hungary. Kincsem is Hungarian for “my Precious.” She holds the record for most races without a defeat winning 54 of 54. She was foaled in 1874 and started racing at the age of two.

Buckpasser

Unfortunately, an infection in his right hoof caused him to miss The Triple Crown races. But that didn’t stop him from winning 25 of 31 races and being named Horse of the Year in 1966. Over his career, he amassed winnings equivalent to $10 million in today’s dollars.

Seabiscuit

Perhaps the most famous non-Triple Crown winner on this list. A late bloomer who did not mature into a speedster until his third year. He defeated Triple Crown winner War Admiral in a match race at Pimlico. He was named Horse of the Year in 1938.

Triple Crown Winners

Winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes is a rare accomplishment. Nicknamed “The Triple Crown,” only 13 horses have won all three races. Beginning in 1919 and ending in 2018, here is the exclusive club:

Sir Barton (1919)

Gallant Fox (1930)

Omaha (1935)

War Admiral (1937)

Whirlaway (1941)

Count Fleet (1943)

Assault (1946)

Citation (1948)

Secretariat (1973)

Seattle Slew (1977)

Affirmed (1978)

American Pharoah (2015)

Justify (2018)

Funny Racehorse Names

Who says that thoroughbreds can’t have funny names? Here are a few to make you smile:

Holly Roller

Tom Fool

Free for All

Swing On

Whisk Broom

Satirical

Busy Body

Key Phrase

Seat Daddy

Ghostzapper

Voodoo Lily

Bad Seed

Too Bald

Weekend Surprise

Spearmint

Won’t Tell You

Shut Out

Good Example

Big Dinner

Native Wit

Hamdaze

Goody Two Shoes

Comic Song

Hermit

Usain Colt

Coyote Ugly

Bring My Burrito

Almost Forgot

Horsey McHorseFace

That’s Show Business

Day Drinking

Fifty Shades of Hay

Arrrrr (Prate Talk)

Horse Laugh

Glamour Puss

Speedy Gonzales

Hoof Hearted

It’s a Long Story

Razzle Dazzle

Amusing Racehorse Names

Trojan Horse

Bangers N’ Mash

Foxy Lady

Hahahahahaha

Let’s Go!

Glue Factory

Hoof N’ Mouth

Lucky Bet

Pokey

Bucktooth

Hall & Oats

Forgot my Shoes

Hangover Cure

Dos Equis

Carrot Muncher

Stand Back

Winx

Queen of Trumps

Wheel of Fortune

All Daddy’s Money

Got Hay?

Macaroni

Smarty Jones

Hula Dancer

Vodka One

New Year’s Day

Savethebestforlast

Looking Good

Don’t Stop Now

Up For Anything

Whoa

Not a Chance

Turkey Foot

Monty Python

Love Bandit

Maythehorsebewithyou

Tricky Trixie

Flying Feet

Strange Odor

Mr. Ed

Jabba the Hoof

Hand Me Another

Feelin’ Frisky

Red Hot Filly Pepper

Apple Eater

Which Way?

Forgot My Saddle

Stay Back at Least Three Lengths

Riding Miss Daisy

2021 Belmont Stakes YouTube Video

Hot Rod Charlie and Rock Your World are just two of the colorfully-named horses that ran the Belmont in 2021.

Cars with Horse Names

Horses are a popular name for car models. Here is a list:

Mustang

Colt

Equus (Latin for Horse, a model made by Hyundai.)

Bronco

Hafflinger (An Austrian Horse Breed.)

Pegaso (A Spanish Car and the Spanish word for Pegasus, the mythical winged stallion.)

Pinto

Brumby (The Subaru Brat in America, the Brumby in Australia, Brumby means Feral Horse in Australian.)

Maverick (Usually used for cows, but applicable to any unbranded range animal.)

Pinzgaler (An Austrian Horse Breed.)

Pony

Camargue (A UK Horse Breed that was used for a car name by Rolls Royce.)

Themed Racehorse Names

So, a themed thoroughbred name conveys a secondary meaning. It could be named after someone (with their prior approval). It could be a place, a specific job, or a personality type. Here are some themed thoroughbred names:

Dr. Fager (The horse owner’s doctor.)

Mr. Prospector

Bold Ruler

Spend Thrift

Joker

Empire Maker

Stage Magic

Pulpit

Gold Digger

Jester

Personable Lady

Deputy Minister

Preach

Hawaii

Jet Action

Hawaii

Crafty Admiral

Scarlet Ribbon

Bold Venture

Running Stream

Porthole

Meddler

Bonnie Scotland

New Minister

King of Kings

A Twist of Fate

Beautiful Dreamer

Desert King

Endless Possibilities

Noble Knight

Flamenco Dancer

Sun Dancer

Chase Your Dream

Devil’s Advocate

On the Town

Flying Hope

Zero to Hero

Stop Shopping Debbie

Check out Beautiful Horse Quotes

Cool Racehorse Names

Have you ever seen a horse with sunglasses? Pretty cool, so here is a list of cool horse names:

Superman

Northern Dancer

Sex Appeal

Cadillac Jack

In Reality

Native Dancer

Wild Violet

Boldness

Something Royal

Captain America

White Eagle

Tomahawk

Hard Tack

Sailing Home

Jet Pilot

Discovery

Unbreakable

Black Wave

Winds Chant

Yankee Gentleman

Storm Cat

Male Racehorse Names

Native Dancer

Storm Bird

Terlingua (Town in Texas that holds a Chili Cook-Off.)

Flying Faster

Tri jet

Miami Mood

Chieftain

Exclusive

In Reality

Wind Song

BulletProof

Magical Illusion

Hennessy (A revered brand of cognac.)

Myth

Primal Force

Relaunch

Cap the Moment!

Storm Breaker

Affirmed

ThunderBolt

Jackpot

Triple Threat

Prima Dona

Mint Copy

No Fear

Sequence

Bull Dog

Hydroplane

Glacier

Musket

Anything’s Possible

Incandescent

Sir Galahad

Maid of the Mist

Royal Flush

Command

Sun Ridge

Enigma

Domino

Check out our Cowboy Names

Fun Racehorse Names

Zombie Trotter

Anomaly

Vampire

Big Jake

Expectations

DeadLock

Phoenix

Smooth Touch

Zorro

Believe in Miracles

Fly Me to the Moon

Phone Trick

Atlantic Jewel

Sea the Stars

Dante

Grand Parade

Eternal Rule

Voltaire

Buddha

Sun Chariot

Wind Song

Almond Eye

Thunder Snow

Gun Runner

Maximum Security

Black Velvet

Colorful Racehorse Names

Deep Impact

Gold Ship

California Chrome

Magic Mike

Best Bet

Asgoodasitgets

Fast as Lightning

Midnight Dream

Amazing Grace

Super Star

Braveheart

We Are the Champions

Cute Thoroughbred Names

Yes, your horse could have a cute name. All horses don’t need Cool or Macho names; cute is just fine. Here is a list of cute names:

Rough N’ Tumble

My Dear Girl

Better Self

Geisha

Miss Disco

Teddy Sweet Music

Catnip

Fairy Gold

Broomstick

Miss Malaprop

Cinderella

My Charmer

Little Princess Emma

Love Style

Bland Kitty

Marguerite

Flying Fox

Goldfinch

Toboggan

Rose Drop

Minnetonka

Blushing Groom

The Apple

Merry Dance

Swinging

Peter Pan

Royal Rose

Elf

Quickly

Poker Chips

Sweet Briar

Perfect Peach

Dust Whirl

Bramble

Ivy Leaf

Head Over Hoofs

Merry Gal

Sweet Pea

Perfect Harmony

Mischief

Brush Up

Merry Token

Female Racehorse Names

Summer Girl

Night Mare

Alice

Whisper

Au Revoir

See Saw

Muffin

Caramel

Bathing Girl

Stella

Bubba

Mustard Seed

Big Red (Nickname for Secretariat.)

Cookie

Pistachio

Isabel

Black Cherry

Sheer Class

Cinnamon

Jewel

Dancing Queen

Buttons

Jockey Restrictions

A jockey can apply for an apprentice license at the age of 16. They also have the option of attending college first. There is one college for jockeys in the U.S. called the North American Racing Academy located in Kentucky. Apprentice jockeys must spend a certain amount of time working in stable, walking horses, and passing a health examination.

Once they have become a “journeyman jockey,” they must also adhere to the weight restrictions. The size of a horse determines how much a jockey can weigh (including equipment). Horses average, carrying 118 to 122 pounds. Jockey’s typically weighed 108 to 118 pounds. There are no height restrictions for jockeys. However, jockeys average 4’ 10” to 5’ 6”. Jockeys that are taller than this tend to miss the weight restrictions.

Funniest Home Stretch Call

At Monmouth Race Park on August 22, 2010, track announcer Larry Colmus called what is arguably the funniest home stretch. Two horses running in the race were named “My Wife Knows Everything” and “My Wife Doesn’t Know.” Of course, when it got to the final quarter-mile, those two horses were neck and neck. My Wife Knows Everything won by one length as the entire crowd was left laughing.

Final Fun Fact

In the Marx Brothers classic, “A Day at the Races,” Harpo Marx plays a jockey riding a horse named Hi-Hat. Hi-Hat and another horse are leading, but both horses fall and are covered in mud. The jockeys get back on the horses and ride off. Hi-Hat appears to lose the race but ultimately is declared the winner!

By Tim Moodie

One of Tim Moodie’s best friends in High School had a well-known grandmother in horse racing circles. She was Francis Genter, and he met Mrs. Genter several times. She was a wonderful woman filled with life and the owner of Unbridled. Unbridled won the 1990 Kentucky Derby and Breeder’s Cup Classic. Her husband, Harold, was the inventor of the pop-up toaster named “The Toastmaster.”

Overtime

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