Court: Man can't name filly 'Sally Hemings'

ESPN ^ | August 7, 2007 | Associated Press

[Red Badger]

Do you really think a State or local government could or would [constitutionally speaking] license a racetrack that allowed gambling on horses named Mohammed, Roosevelt or whatever offensive name suits your fancy?

They would deny the license on some other constitutionally solid ground, but they would never admit to denying the license over a "free speech" issue.......

[MississippiMan]

What say ye?

I say he can name the horse whatever he likes, so long as he doesn't want it to be a part of the Jockey Club. :-)

No first amendment issue here at all that I can see, rather an issue of whether a private organization can set its own reasonable rules.

MM (in TX)

[bannie]

This is bull.

Totally politically motivated.

I’ll bet they’d let him name one Nancy Reagan or Barbara Bush.

[tpaine]

Do you really think a State or local government could or would [constitutionally speaking] license a racetrack that allowed gambling on horses named Mohammed, Roosevelt or whatever offensive name suits your fancy?

Red Badger:
They would deny the license on some other constitutionally solid ground, but they would never admit to denying the license over a 'free speech' issue.......

No first amendment issue here at all that I can see, rather an issue of whether a private organization can set its own reasonable rules.
MM (in TX)

Its not 'reasonable' for racetracks to allow objectionable names for horses. - 'Fighting words' ordinances can be applied [constitutionally speaking] to such acts.

Regulation of Fighting Words

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/hatespeech.htm