Name Games: Origins of Derby Monikers

http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/article/44920.htm ^ | April 30, 2008 | Claire Novak

[gate2wire]

In our quest to discover the origins of names belonging to Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contenders, we discovered a diamond mine, picked up some basketball lingo, learned Indonesian, and found out "What brown can do for us" (to slightly modify a line from a popular television ad). Here are the stories behind the names of a few runners going into this year’s first Saturday in May.

Anak Nakal (Victory Gallop-Misk) is an Indonesian phrase meaning "mischevious child," owner Kassem Masri of Four Roses Thoroughbreds said. "He was a bad boy," Masri said. "But he's not anymore."

Pyro (Pulpit-Wild Vision) was just a word that popped into Ron Winchell’s head one day, when the owner was naming a bunch of horses with racing manager David Fiske. The name doesn’t have anything to do with the colt’s sire or dam, but Fiske did report a hunch Winchell had at the time. He said, “Who wants to run against something named Pyro? That just sounds dangerous.”

Proud Spell (Proud Citizen-Pacific Spell) is a combination of sire/dam names.

Rest at the link.

[gate2wire]

For all those who bet names.

[ßuddaßudd]

When at the track, I use the odds, last races results, jockey and yes, the name does influence me a lot. Dollar beers have a lot of influnece on me too....

[gate2wire]

Names mean nothing to me. Normally I don’t even know the names of horses I bet. Just a number- “$50 to win on the one horse.”

Dollar beers? Now you’re talking.

[penowa]

Interesting article for anybody who has ever spent time trying to come up with appropriate names for TB’s. I always favored some combination of the sire and dam. Named the first colt I bred Rejoy (Revoked - Miss Nubbin by Johns Joy.) My dad always favored names of obscure places in N. Ireland where he was born.