There are some horse names that make you wonder what on earth the owner was thinking. Others are so unfortunate that you can practically hear the race commentator trying not to laugh. But one American racehorse has just discovered that choosing a name can have consequences far beyond a few raised eyebrows in the paddock.

The horse had already made her racing debut when officials decided that her name was a problem. Her owner has offered an explanation for where it came from, but racing authorities were not convinced it was suitable for the racecourse. And that is where things get rather awkward.

A name becomes a problem

The two year old filly was registered as ‘Austrian Painter’ and won her debut at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Monday. Shortly afterwards, however, the US Jockey Club received a formal complaint about the name and opened an investigation. The organisation ultimately decided that it was ineligible under its rules because it could reasonably be interpreted as an offensive reference to Mr Adolf H. There is an obvious reason for the association. Hitler was born in Austria and spent part of his early adult life pursuing a career as an artist in Vienna.

“Austrian painter” has also become an online euphemism for Hitler, particularly in places where users try to avoid content moderation. The horse’s owner and breeder, Scott Herbertson, however has said the name was intended to refer to Austrian artist Gustav Klimt, rather than the other. Klimt was the artist behind The Kiss and is one of Austria’s most famous painters compared to the other who is also famous but for all the wrong reasons. That explanation did not prevent the name being changed. Austrian Painter is now officially called Merrylegs. Such a downgrade, I know. she sounds more like a ‘My Little Pony’ than a racehorse.

And then there was another horse

Unfortunately for Herbertson, he had another naming headache waiting in the stable. Austrian Painter’s full sister was registered as New Order, and now things are looking suspicious. But not to worry, Herbertson hand a good reason for that name too, and said that name was a reference to the British electronic band New Order, rather than anything connected to Nazi Germany. The Jockey Club nevertheless, once again, ordered that horse also be renamed. The problem is that “New Order” also has a historical association with Nazi Germany’s plans for occupied Europe.

So Herbertson now has two horses requiring new identities, despite having explanations for both names. It is hardly the first time a racehorse name has caused a stir. In 2017, a South African racehorse called President Trump was ordered to change its name after racing authorities deemed it unsuitable. The horse was subsequently castrated and renamed Fake News, after an attempt to use “POTUS” was also rejected, some people have no sense of humour!

When horse names get very awkward

Over the years some names have caused controversy for a completely different reason: they are simply hilarious, rude or unfortunate when spoken aloud. Take Porn Star, for example. There really was a Dutch Warmblood show jumper with that name, born in 1997 and registered for FEI-level jumping competitions. Records show the horse competed in international events in Italy with riders including Filippo Linari and Marta Bottanelli.  

Then there was Brandy Love, a racehorse who attracted plenty of attention before the Cheltenham Festival because her name was almost identical to that of adult actress Brandi Love. Even jockey Paul Townend struggled to keep a straight face when was asked about riding her. And racing has produced names that are considerably harder for commentators to say with a straight face. Hoof Hearted became notorious because its name sounds rather different when shouted repeatedly at race-commentator speed. Racing Post even included it among the names that had somehow slipped through the naming rules. 

Sometimes the mistake is completely innocent

Not every memorable horse name was deliberately trying to cause trouble. One of Britain’s better-known jumpers was called Definitly Red, yes, without the second “e” in “Definitely”. The spelling was apparently the result of a mistake when the horse’s name was registered for point-to-point racing. That did not exactly hold him back. Definitly Red went on to win 15 of his 38 races, including the Charlie Hall Chase and Many Clouds Chase, and twice competed in the Grand National. 

So perhaps the lesson from Austrian Painter is that naming a horse is rather more complicated than finding something that sounds good on a race card. You can name one after an artist, a rock band, a celebrity or simply make a spelling mistake, but once thousands of people are reading the name, you don’t get to decide what they see in it.

Marbella’s streets, beaches and hillside tracks will fill with walkers from nearly twenty countries between October 1 and 4, as the town hosts the fifteenth round of Marbella 4 Days Walking. Around 4,000 participants are expected, with roughly seven in ten travelling from abroad, making it one of the biggest international gatherings on the coast.

What exactly is Marbella 4 Days Walking?

Born in the Netherlands and now adopted by Marbella, this festival invites hikers of all abilities to pick between 10km, 20km and 30km circuits on each day of the event. Circuits wind through the old town, along the seafront promenade and up into the countryside towards the foothills of Sierra Blanca, giving entrants a proper look at Marbella beyond its beach clubs and marinas. Saturday and Sunday bring “Challenge” routes for anyone wanting an extra test of stamina.

Every stage starts and ends at the same central point near the seafront, where organisers lay on live music, food stalls and a proper festival atmosphere once the boots come off. Tradition has it that the closing stretch each year gets dressed up as the “Via Gladiolo” — named after the gladiolus flower, an old Roman symbol of victory, with walkers handed a flower as they cross the line.

City tourism chiefs have plenty to be happy about during this week. Organisers forecast between 20,000 and 25,000 overnight stays across the four days, a wonderful autumn boost for hotels, restaurants and shops during what is normally a quieter month once summer crowds thin out.

Remembering the man who started it all

This edition has extra meaning following the death of Hans Wohl, the festival’s founder, who passed away over the summer. Long-time participants have described his loss as deeply felt within an event that has grown from a small gathering into one of Spain’s largest walking festivals, with tributes to his legacy expected across the four days.

How to take part or cheer from the sidelines

Registration can be done via the official website, marbella4dayswalking.com, where walkers can book either a full four-day pass at €115 — covering all walking days plus entry to the evening Fiesta parties — or single days at €35 each. Places are capped at 4,000 participants, so anyone hoping to walk should check availability straight away, as spots close once that limit is reached.

Children can take part on shorter routes when accompanied by an adult, and roughly a hundred volunteers, coordinated by event representative Natascha van Steenkiste, will keep things running smoothly. No ticket is needed to watch: spectators can head to Plaza del Mar each afternoon to catch the finishes, complete with dancing, drinks and live bands.

Hours have turned into an agonising wait for one British family, as rescue teams comb through the wreckage of a collapsed Athens building in search of a 78-year-old man missing since a powerful explosion tore through his home.

Missing Briton still a focus of rescue operation

Living in one of Athens’ historic quarters, the pensioner occupied the second floor of a two-storey property on Lysikratous Street, in the Plaka district near the Temple of Zeus, together with his 77-year-old Greek wife. Neither has been accounted for since the blast struck shortly before 8am on Friday, September 25, collapsing the structure into a tangle of twisted metal, broken balconies and hanging concrete slabs. Force of the explosion was strong enough to be heard right across central Athens.

Others feared trapped in same building

Sharing the property with the British couple were tourists staying in a first-floor holiday rental, reported by various outlets as either three or four Americans. Due to catch a flight home to the United States that Friday afternoon, they failed to check in, meaning there was a possibility they never left the building. A young woman believed to be American was found dead in the rubble overnight, and five others, including the British man and his wife, are still unaccounted for.

Around thirty firefighters, six vehicles and specialist units from Greece’s elite EMAK rescue squad have descended on the scene, working with three sniffer dogs trained to detect signs of life. Sound-detection equipment and cameras designed to locate people beneath rubble are being deployed, and heavy machinery is clearing debris in careful stages, with operations paused periodically so rescuers can listen for any response. Saturday morning brought a small breakthrough, with a city spokesman confirming that enough wreckage had been removed to reach bedrooms towards the rear of the property, raising hopes that the missing pensioner and his wife might yet be found.

Cause of explosion still unconfirmed

Investigators from the Fire Department’s Arson Crimes Division are still at the site, working to establish what triggered the explosion; no official cause has yet been confirmed. Meanwhile, a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson confirmed the department is aware of a suspected explosion in Athens and is in touch with local authorities, adding that officials stand ready to offer assistance to British nationals abroad. Family of the missing 78-year-old, meanwhile, face a horrible anxious wait for news.