Racehorse owner Scott Herbertson has insisted the name 'Austrian Painter' had nothing to do with Adolf Hitler, after the Jockey Club ordered the horse to be renamed. The horse, entered in its debut race in Indianapolis, was renamed 'Merrylegs' and went on to win that race.
Jockey Club ruling
The Jockey Club said in a statement: 'The Registrar determined that the name is ineligible under Rule 6.F.9.d, which prohibits names that 'are likely to be offensive or threatening based upon factors including, but not limited to, colour, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, race, religion, politics or sexual orientation.'
Online, 'Austrian Painter' is a term often used to reference Hitler without naming him outright. As a young man, Hitler painted thousands of pieces but failed to become an artist in Vienna before World War One. He was twice rejected from the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, and his works are widely regarded among art experts as being poor quality.
Owner's explanation
Herbertson said the horse's name was a reference to Austrian painter Gustav Klimt. Another horse he owns, named New Order, was named after his favourite band – but some pointed out that it was a term for the Nazi plan to occupy Europe.
Jockey Club's vice president for communications, Shannon Luce, added: 'We take these matters seriously and appreciate that they were brought to our attention. The naming review process is performed through a combination of human and technological analysis. As part of our continuous evaluation of the process, we assess new technologies as they become available.'
