The Jockey Club, the leading sanctioning body in what’s left of the sport of horse racing in the U.S., sent out a clear message Wednesday to anybody thinking of naming their horse after Hitler: Don’t name your horse after Hitler.

The two-year-old colt Austrian Painter made his racing debut Monday with a win in the third race at Horseshoe Indianapolis Racecourse. Obligatory: He covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.97, and paid $9.00. Afterward, the Jockey Club received objections about the victorious newcomer, but these weren't the standard post-race protests about a jockey’s obstructing or dangerous ride or a horse’s drug abuse. No, these complaints were about the horse’s name. Because, as reported by ESPN in its Austrian Painter story, “Hitler was born in Austria and was an artist.”

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[–] [S] 87 points 1 day ago (5 children)

How is this dude not fully banned from everything ever

It's a pattern for Herbertson. He had submitted other names to the Jockey Club for Austrian Painter, including "My Struggle" and "Braunau Star." The former is the English translation for Hitler's manifesto Mein Kampf, which he wrote while in prison; the latter seems to be a reference to Hitler's birthplace Braunau am Inn, although Herbertson claimed it was referencing the birthplace of his wife's grandfather. He also said "Austrian Painter" was a reference to Gustav Klimt.

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  • [–] 30 points 1 day ago (2 children)

    Are one of his wife's parents from Argentina?

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