A US racehorse named “Austrian Painter” is renamed after the Jockey Club ruled the name was ineligible following complaints it referenced Adolf Hitler. The change comes after the colt won its debut at Horseshoe Indianapolis, and the Jockey Club ordered the owner to rename the horse as part of a review.
Reports say the complaint stemmed from the phrase “Austrian Painter,” which some users employ online as an indirect reference to Hitler. The Jockey Club states it evaluates names under rules that bar those “likely to be offensive or threatening,” using a mix of human and technological analysis. Owner and breeder Scott Herbertson denies any Nazi connection and says the name refers to Austrian painter Gustav Klimt.
Multiple outlets note that Herbertson also owns another horse called “New Order,” a name that drew additional online scrutiny because it is associated with Nazi terminology. The Jockey Club’s decision resulted in the horse being renamed “Merrylegs,” with coverage reporting it wins again shortly after the renaming. The Athletic additionally reports that the owner’s social media history contains misogynistic and antisemitic commentary, though it does not say this affected the naming ruling.
