The US Jockey Club has mandated a name change for a racehorse after determining that its original name referenced Adolf Hitler. Austrian Painter, who won its first race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Monday, was flagged following a complaint that prompted an investigation. The name alludes to Hitler—an Austrian-born artist before World War I—who is sometimes indirectly referred to as the “Austrian Painter” online to bypass content filters.
The horse’s owner and breeder, Scott Herbertson, suggested on social media that the name honored Austrian artist Gustav Klimt. Additionally, the horse’s full sister, named New Order, must also be renamed. While New Order is widely known as a British rock band, it can also refer to Nazi Germany’s plan for controlling Europe during the war. Herbertson defended the name, saying, “New order is my favoured band you lune,” on social media.
The Jockey Club announced that Austrian Painter will now be registered as Merrylegs. They explained that, following the complaint, a review was conducted and the name was found to violate Rule 6.F.9.d, which bans names that may be offensive or threatening based on aspects like race, ethnicity, religion, politics, or other personal characteristics. The Jockey Club emphasized their commitment to addressing such concerns promptly.
This is not the first time the Jockey Club has required a horse’s name to be changed due to offensive associations. In 2019, a horse named Noose was renamed Scabbard after intervention by the organization.
Fan Take: This ruling highlights the ongoing responsibility within horse racing to ensure that the sport remains respectful and inclusive. For fans, it reinforces the importance of vigilance against problematic content that can detract from the integrity of racing and its community.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
