Kentucky Derby

Every year I do a little evaluation of the names of the horses in the Kentucky Derby. I find horse names fun and once per year I peek into that world to see what is up. It got started in 1979 when a horse named Spectacular Bid won the race. I thought that was a very cool name so I have followed it on a casual basis since then. The next year's winner was Genuine Risk, another cool name and I was hooked.

A good name does well on three criteria

1. Sounds good just rolling off your tongue.

2. Sounds especially good rolling off the tongue of the announcer as he calls the race.

3. Evokes some passion, image or humor because what the words mean or could mean in another context.

You can see why Spectacular Bid hit it out of the park on all three counts and is still the all time champ.

I have to say that the last few years have been pretty weak and 2005 keeps up this trend. The names are ordinary, not original, not poetic, not funny, nothing. The only one that even has a shot is Don't Get Mad. That could grow on you. It definitely has potential.

Sounds good coming from the announcer. Evokes some thoughts and feelings in another environment but just is too ordinary to be poetic or sound good coming of the tongue.

With only one decent entrant I give 2005 Kentucky Derby names a D.