Regardless of what day a racehorse is born, it's birthday will automatically be set at January 1. The main reason for this is that it makes things much easier for race organizers. The horse must also be officialy registered within a year of the date they were actually born. Picking a name for a racehorse in the United States is serious business and the registration process is quite complicated. The process begins with the Jockey Club as they are the organization with the responsibility of overseeing the sport of Thoroughbred racing.

The DNA of the horse and both parents must also be submitted and kept on file with the Jockey Club. If a horse is born by means of artificial insemination they will not be accepted. The Jockey Club goes to great lengths to ensure that every thoroughbred is descended from horses in their official record, The American Stud Book. They will also accept horses that are officially recorded in Stud Books of countries recognized by the Jockey Club.

A racehorse can also be named and registered at the same time. The fee for naming a horse will be waived if it is registered at the same time.

Of course there are many rules concerning the naming of a thoroughbred. First of all, any name that is currently being used by a living Thoroughbred that is under ten years of age is not eligible. In the naming process, it's required that six possible options are listed. The first name that is available will be given to your horse.

There is also quite a long restricted list of names that can never be given to a racehorse. This list includes Hall of Fame Members and Kentucky Derby winners. It also includes any name that the Jockey Club considers too special to allow it to be re-used. Names like Secretariat, Whirlaway, or Affirmed and many others are untouchable. From this point on, it gets even more complicated.

The Jockey Club stipulates that an explanation for a "made up name" must be given if the name has no apparent meaning. Also if foreign words are used, a translation must be provided. All horses names must be less than eighteen characters and cannot end with the words stud, colt, filly or any other horse term. The name cannot end with a number or names of famous or notorious people. The only way you can use any person's name is if the Jockey Club receives written consent from that person.

Any name that resembles any manner of copyrighted name cannot be used. So names of movies, books, films, or songs are all forbidden. It can't even "sound" like a copyrighted name. For example, Star Warz would not be permitted. Finally, any names that are obscene, vulgar, in bad taste, or are deemed offensive to any religion or ethnic group will not be allowed.

Considering that the Jockey Club receives over 50,000 name applications a year, owners will need to have a good imagination and a bit of luck to find just the right name for their horse. It might be especially difficult if they have their heart set on naming a horse after it's parents.

For instance, Seabiscuit's name was chosen because his father's name was Hard Tack. Both names refer to a type of cracker that sailors used to eat.

Learn more about this author, Ray Fauteux.
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