[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)

[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