An official chart from a two-year-old maiden race held Monday at Horseshoe Indianapolis racetrack lists a horse named Merrylegs as the winner. However, during the live event, the horse was entered under a far more contentious name, revealing flaws in the thoroughbred naming approval process.
The horse was originally named Austrian Painter. Although owner Scott Herbertson initially denied any controversial intent, social media users quickly speculated that the name was a veiled reference to Adolf Hitler, born in Austria and known to have been an artist. Herbertson insisted on X (formerly Twitter) that the name honored Gustav Klimt, an Austrian artist from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Yet, after a formal complaint triggered a review, the Jockey Club—the American thoroughbred registry responsible for approving names—announced the name had been changed to Merrylegs.
The Jockey Club cited Rule 6.F.9.d, which bans names likely to be offensive or threatening based on race, religion, nationality, and other factors. The phrase “Austrian painter” is used online as a euphemism to refer to Hitler while bypassing content filters. Further scrutiny revealed Herbertson had submitted other controversial backup names to the Jockey Club, including “My Struggle” (the English translation of Hitler’s manifesto “Mein Kampf”) and “Braunau Star,” referencing Hitler’s Austrian birthplace.
Herbertson, described in media as a professional poker player, claimed his grandfather was born in Braunau. Yet, his social media conduct has raised doubts about these explanations. For example, in May, he made a racially charged comment on X mocking a congressman’s potential election loss, and in March, he expressed regret over not seeing Confederate flags in yards. Attempts to contact Herbertson went unanswered.
Michael Levinson, a co-owner of a 2017 Kentucky Derby runner-up and a Jewish industry figure, reacted with outrage upon seeing the name Austrian Painter. He called for Herbertson’s owners’ license to be suspended, emphasizing that such behavior stains the sport and undermines its integrity. Levinson also criticized the Jockey Club for failing to detect what he perceived as an obvious Hitler reference, especially given his own challenges with the organization over a horse name that initially faced rejection.
According to Equibase, Herbertson has been active in racing since 2015 with 561 starts and earnings exceeding $2.5 million. None of his previous horse names raised controversy. However, this incident highlights concerns about whether the Jockey Club’s name approval system is outdated. Industry insiders admit this is not an isolated problem, noting that inappropriate names often slip through and call for better vetting, possibly through advanced tools like AI.
The Jockey Club has not commented on whether it uses AI or how thoroughly it screens for potentially offensive euphemisms. Previous controversies include a 2021 incident where trainer Eric Guillot was banned after naming a horse “Grape Soda,” a name many considered racist despite Guillot’s protests it was a joke.
It remains unclear if any official action will be taken against Herbertson. A spokesperson for the Indiana Horse Racing Commission declined to comment immediately on the matter.
Fan Take:
This incident serves as a wake-up call for horse racing fans and officials alike, highlighting the need for stricter and more technologically savvy vetting of horse names to protect the sport’s reputation. Allowing controversial or offensive names to slip through not only damages the industry’s image but also risks alienating fans, sponsors, and participants who expect a higher standard of respect and professionalism.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
