Ride to Glory

February 27, 2003 10:32 AM

The Name Game Valley Creek Farms "solicits help from clever people each year to help name their young horses." If you consider yourself a gifted wordsmith with a knack for penning equine monikers that will get the bugs a buzzin' and make the farrier smile, this is your chance to take the reins. But it's not easy. The rules are extensive and your choice may already be taken. But with luck, you may one day hear your literary masterpiece of 18 letters or less roll off the caller's tongue and become part of thoroughbred history.
posted by snez (13 comments total)

The first link might be a little confusing if you're new to the world of thoroughbreds. When it says WILD DEPUTY out of STILL SMOKIN by FAR OUT EAST, Wild Deputy is the sire, Still Smokin’ is the dam and Far Out East is the sire of the dam. Check out the lineage for Wild Deputy (scroll down) to gain a better understanding. I hope that helps.
posted by snez at 10:46 AM on February 27, 2003

Dang it. I just spent half an hour putting down some of the finest names ever concieved, and the form doesn't work. (Invalid referrer.)
posted by oissubke at 11:21 AM on February 27, 2003

I'm sorry oissubke - I'm embarrassed to say that I was so caught up in composing the post that I haven't submitted any of my own yet. I should have checked it before posting. My apologies. I hope no one else had/has the same problem. I'd be interested in reading some of your fine names here oissubke, if you're willing to do so without getting the proper credit. or maybe this thread should be deleted?
posted by snez at 11:34 AM on February 27, 2003

Ive just spent a while browsing through the online names book. These horse namers are an uncreative bunch, for the most part. There are few foreign words and, in some cases, the namers seem to have confused their horses with vanity license plates - 'U the man Elvis'?
posted by vacapinta at 11:44 AM on February 27, 2003

Actually, since it uses a formmail script, I just went into the source code and pulled the e-mail address, then e-mailed the names directly.

Anyone who wants to send names, just e-mail them directly to [e-mail] (remove the obvious) with the subject line "Name Game"
posted by oissubke at 11:53 AM on February 27, 2003

I wanted to submit "Purple Monkey Dishwasher", but it's too long. Guess I'll just have to name my kid that (If it's a boy, of course).
posted by Samsonov14 at 11:54 AM on February 27, 2003

Shamefully, Hoof Hearted is already restricted.

6. (f) 13. Names that are suggestive or have a vulgar or obscene meaning; names considered in poor taste; or names that may be offensive to religious, political or ethnic groups.

Alas, dead horses cannot have registered names either. Beat Me came to mind.
posted by m@ at 12:35 PM on February 27, 2003

"Trust me, I'm a stomach"
posted by ed\26h at 1:19 PM on February 27, 2003

My choice--"Slow Horse"--hasn't been used!
posted by cadastral at 2:31 PM on February 27, 2003

A co-worker of mine has expressed a desire to own a race horse and name it "Doesn't Mind Urine." Trust me, it grows on you after a bit.
posted by davebush at 6:03 PM on February 27, 2003

The Washington Post's Style Invitational runs a contest like this every year. Here are the marvelous (but largely restricted) results from last year:
The winners (scroll down).
The also-rans.
posted by hippugeek at 6:58 PM on February 27, 2003

Darn that "poor taste" thing. I would SO love to see a racehorse named Future Glue.
posted by Vidiot at 6:54 AM on February 28, 2003

...and its Dog Food by a nose followed by Alpo and Friskies...
posted by Pollomacho at 8:57 AM on February 28, 2003