Naming a Kentucky Derby horse is something of an inexact science.
The Jockey Club, which is in charge of the registration of racehorse names, lists 17 restrictions on names, including no names longer than 18 characters, no names that are vulgar or obscene and no names that repeat a winner of a Grade 1 stakes in the last 25 years.
Horses must be named by Feb. 1 of their 2-year-old year or be subject to an additional fee.
“The process becomes sort of chaotic in the waning hours prior to the deadline especially when you have about 30 horses to name,” said David Fiske, the manager of Ron Winchell’s Winchell Thoroughbreds, which owns points leader Epicenter. “It ends up like writing jokes — some are hits and some are misses.”
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The easiest path to naming a future Derby horse is to draw on the name of the horse’s sire, dam or both. A defining characteristic makes it easier to name some horses, like Un Ojo, the one-eyed horse who was in position for the Derby before being pulled from contention shortly before Monday’s draw.
As evidenced by the 2022 Kentucky Derby field, some names are harder to explain. Here’s a look at how each of the Derby horses this year got their names.
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To learn more about each horse, click on its name.
Named for the street where owner Bill Simon’s wife, Tammy, grew up.
A combination of his dam, I’ll Take Charge, and sire, Tapit.
Classic Causeway’s sire is Giant’s Causeway.
A combination of the name of his sire, Reach the Crown, and dam, Emmy’s Pride.
Named for the prostate cancer procedure received by owner Al Gold.
“I am using this to get the word out that when you have prostate cancer you are afraid, but this is a form of cancer that is treatable,” Gold told The Courier Journal.
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“I wish there was a better story, but no such luck,” Fiske said. “Ron (Winchell) and I both grew up in California where earthquake stories are ubiquitous, so we are aware of Richter scale terminology maybe more than a lot of people. I can’t remember how we came up with Epicenter as a name, but there could’ve been some reporting or a Weather Channel story about earthquakes at the time that subliminally entered our consciousness.”
The owners at Calumet Farms nicknamed him Jack at birth. When it came time to register an official name, they combined the nickname with “happy” due to his sunny demeanor.
Named after NHL great Mark Messier. The wife of Tom Ryan of the ownership group SF Bloodstock is the daughter of former Edmonton Oilers forward Pat Hughes. Ryan met Messier during an Oilers team reunion in 2017.
The name includes references to his sire, Uncle Mo, and owner, Donegal racing.
A combination of his sire, Pioneer of the Nile, and dam, Lights of Medina.
Rich Strikes’ dam is Gold Strike.
Simplification’s dam is Simply Confection.
A combination of the name of his sire, Runhappy, and dam, Pleasant Smile.
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A combination of the name of his sire, Summer Front, and dam, Always Tomorrow.
Taiba was originally named Needmore Guns in honor of sire, Gun Runner, and dam, Needmore Flattery, but was renamed after being purchased by Zedan Racing Stables. Taiba is a nickname for Medina, Saudi Arabia, the hometown of owner Amr Zedan.
Tawny Port is the name of a type of wine from northern Portugal.
A combination of the name of his sire, Hit It a Bomb, and dam, Tiz the Key.
Several of former owner Carlos Perez’s horses are named after his hometown of Abarrio, Spain. White Abarrio continues that tradition with a reference to his light gray color.
Named after a hunting guide of owner Jeff Drown, according to trainer Chad Brown.
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Zozos is named for a restaurant on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where owners Barry and Joni Butzows have a property.
