250+ Best Derby Horse Names: Unique and Inspiring Ideas!

Are you looking for the perfect name for your new racehorse? Check out our list of the best derby horse names! We’ve got unique and inspiring options to choose from.

Whether you’re looking for a traditional name or something more creative, these names will help your horse stand out from the pack.

Read on for a compilation of some of our favorite options for derby horse names.

Also Check: Good Buckskin Horse Names

81 Best Derby Horse Names for Your Racehorse

Derby Day [1] is the most exciting day of the year in Kentucky. It’s a day to gather together and celebrate these magnificent animals, which make us so proud.

The process for choosing a name is often long and arduous, but it’s worth it to find the perfect moniker for your horse.

If you’re looking for some inspiration when it comes to picking out a name for your derby horse, look no further.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the best Kentucky Derby horse names to help you get started.

1. Amethyst
2. Aster
3. Bailey
4. Barley
5. Big Mama
6. Blacksmith
7. Blazer
8. Bolt
9. Bronco
10. Buck
11. Buckeye
12. Butterscotch
13. Carolina
14. Cherish
15. Clover
16. Clydesdale
17. Colonel
18. Colorado
19. Colt
20. Connecticut
21. Daisy
22. Deputy
23. Diesel
24. Eleanor
25. Ellie
26. Franklin
27. Gypsy
28. Hayley
29. Hollyhock
30. Horseshoe
31. Ironclad
32. Jasmine
33. Jockey
34. Juliet
35. Jupiter
36. Kennedy
37. Kentucky
38. King
39. Ladybird
40. Lincoln
41. Lucky
42. Magnolia
43. Marigold
44. Marmalade
45. Meadow
46. Midsummer
47. Molly
48. Morgan
49. Mustang Sally
50. Nightmare
51. Nutmeg
52. Officer
53. Peanut
54. Pearl
55. Pecos
56. Piper
57. President
58. Quarterback
59. Ridgeline
60. River
61. Rosette
62. Rushmore
63. Sadie
64. Sapphire
65. Sassy
66. Sheriff
67. Shoelace
68. Skydancer
69. Steeltoe
70. Strawberry
71. Tank
72. Temperance
73. Tennessee
74. Texas
75. Trigger
76. Velvet
77. Washington
78. Wilbur
79. Willow
80. Wisteria
81. Wrangler

Here’s quick video of some derby horse names.

@yahoosports Taking a look at the best #KentuckyDerby horse names. #horse #horseracing #derby #sports ♬ Fanfare welcomes the finale – SOUND BANK

ALSO CHECK: Kentucky Derby Horse Names 2023

33 Best Kentucky Derby Horse Names

Like with people, some names seem to fit horses better than others. Look no further if you’re looking for the best Kentucky Derby horse names. Here are my absolute favorite derby names.

1. American Pharoah
2. Apollo
3. Assault
4. Barbaro
5. Big Brown
6. Buchanan
7. Canonero II
8. Citation
9. Cloud Computing
10. Digital Age
11. Elwood
12. Exterminator
13. Flying Ebony
14. Gallant Fox
15. Grindstone
16. His Eminence
17. Jet Pilot
18. Joe Cotton
19. Judge Himes
20. Lieut. Gibson
21. Lord Murphy
22. Omaha
23. Seattle Slew
24. Secretariat
25. Sir Barton
26. Stone Street
27. Twenty Grand
28. Tyson Fury
29. Unbridled
30. War Admiral
31. War Emblem
32. Whirlaway
33. Wintergreen

Watch this video of the 2021 Kentucky Derby!

16 Kentucky Derby Winners Names

Throughout the Kentucky Derby’s 143-year history, over 2,000 horses have raced for the roses. And their names have been nothing short of exciting, alluring, and fun.

1. Boundless – Third Place (1893)
2. Bold Venture – Winner (1936)
3. War Admiral – Winner (1937)
4. Damascus – Third Place (1967)
5. Majestic Prince – Winner (1969)
6. Riva Ridge – Winner (1972)
7. Seattle Slew – Winner (1977)
8. Spectacular Bid – Winner (1979)
9. Risen Star – Winner (1988)
10. Sunday Silence – Winner (1989)
11. Empire Maker – Second Place (1993)
12. Silver Charm – Winner (1997)
13. Charismatic – WInner (1999)
14. American Pharoah – WInner (2015)
15. Gun Runner – Winner (2016)
16. Always Dreaming – Winner (2017)

@equestrian969 #fyp #horse #horses #horses4life #horsesontiktok #usequestrian #equestrian #kentuckyderby #horseracing #horsesport #thoroughbreds #history #2020 #race ♬ original sound – equestrian969

56 Funny Kentucky Derby Horse Names

Are you looking for a laugh? Check out our list of funny Kentucky Derby [2] horse names! These names are sure to get you giggling.

1. Barely Legal (1982 and 1989)
2. Bet on Me
3. Bodacious Tatas (1985)
4. Brangelina (2005)
5. Busted
6. Call the Trainer
7. Comeback Kid
8. Curse Reversed (2004)
9. Dancing Shoes
10. Derby Darling
11. Down by Law
12. Early Riser
13. Eighteencharacters (2002)
14. False Sires
15. Fifty Shades of Bay
16. Final Finisher
17. Forget Me Not
18. Gimmie a Kiss
19. Going to the Dogs
20. Hay Burner
21. Hot to Trot
22. Hot Rod Charlie
23. I’m So Confused
24. In It to Win It
25. Junkinthetrunk (2000)
26. Left at the Gate
27. Lewinsky (1996)
28. Lone Ranger
29. Longshot
30. Lost in the Fog
31. Lov Guv (2006)
32. Lucky in Love
33. Mane Event
34. Mookie’s Runnin (2006)
35. No Chance
36. Nosupeforyou (1998)
37. Number One Fan
38. Odor in the Court (1996)
39. Off to the Races
40. Paint the Town Red
41. Panty Raid (2007)
42. Party at My Place
43. Party Time!
44. Paycheck Pony Up Press On regardless
45. Pimpin Ain’t Easy
46. Race for the Roses
47. Rapunzel’s Hairdo
48. Riding Miss Daisy (2004)
49. Running
50. Slumpbuster (2006)
51. That’s Whatshesaid (2007)
52. Turducken (2000)
53. Walk of Shame (1991)
54. Whatamichoppedliver (the 1970s)
55. Where’s the Beef (2008)
56. You’re My Boy Blue (2005)

59 Kentucky Derby Worst Horse Names

As much as most of the names are awesome and unique, there are a few black sheep that are considered some of the worst derby names. Check them out.

1. Wool Sandal
2. Wind of the North
3. Whatsthescript
4. Watermelon
5. Watermelon
6. Ugly Bug
7. Tswhatimtalkinbou
8. Trick Me Twice
9. Tonto’s Spirit
10. The Greek Warrior
11. The Clown
12. Temptress
13. T V Commercial
14. Sweetnorthernsaint
15. Super Saver
16. Steamin’ Hot
17. Soup and Sandwich
18. Snuzzle
19. Sir Daniel
20. Shut Up
21. Shawklit Won
22. Ruh Roh
23. Quasimodo
24. One Lucky Dude
25. My Man Sam
26. Mubtaahij
27. Mr. Bones
28. Materiality
29. Lost Cause
30. Lord Nelson
31. Lil E. Tee
32. Lani
33. Kitten’s Joy
34. Killer Diller
35. Jaklin Klugman
36. Jack’s Back
37. Itsaknockout
38. Itsaknockout
39. International Star
40. Inflated Ego
41. I’m a Billionaire
42. High Cotton
43. Hedge Fund
44. Green Alligator
45. Governor Charlie
46. Got the Blues Again
47. Goldencents
48. Get Down Mary
49. Geauxinonice
50. Gatch
51. Free Drop Billy
52. Firing Line
53. Far from Over
54. El Kabeir
55. Dullahan
56. Dit
57. Daddy Nose Best
58. Black Servant
59. Big Truck

Top 20 Horse Derby Names

Here are the top 20 contenders for 2022’s derby.

@lifezizgoodz Can you name them? #kentuckyderby #horseracing ♬ Countdown – Official Sound Studio

1. Epicenter
2. Un Ojo
3. Smile Happy
4. Ethereal Road
5. Barber Road
6. Classic Causeway
7. Pappacap
8. Zandon
9. White Abarrio
10. Mo Donegal
11. Rattle N Roll
12. Make It Big
13. Slow Down Andy
14. Major General
15. Dash Attack
16. Early Voting
17. Call Me Midnight,
18. Courvoisier
19. Kavod
20. Commandperformance

In Conclusion,

There are many great Kentucky Derby horse names to choose from. Whether you are looking for a winner, a funny name, or a unique and inspiring option, there is sure to be a perfect fit for you!

We hope you have enjoyed our list of the best Kentucky Derby horse names. Thanks for reading!

What are your favorite derby horse names? Please share below!

Resources

• 1. Kentucky Derby: Physiologically Training the Racehorse [Internet]. Equine Science. [cited 2022 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/equine/kentucky-derby-physiologically-training-racehorse
• 2. Artificial Intelligence and The Kentucky Derby : Networks Course blog for INFO 2040/CS 2850/Econ 2040/SOC 2090 [Internet]. [cited 2022 Feb 28]. Available from: https://blogs.cornell.edu/info2040/2017/12/01/artificial-intelligence-and-the-kentucky-derby/