Racehorse Renamed After Complaints ‘Austrian Painter’ Was a Reference to Adolf Hitler

September 25, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

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A racehorse just making its debut this week in Indianapolis has already had its name changed after accusations it was a reference to Adolf Hitler.

The 2-year-old colt, Austrian Painter, will now be known as Merrylegs going forward, The Jockey Club announced in a social media post on Wednesday, September 23. The Nazi dictator was, of course, born in Austria and was an artist before rising to political power. According to the New York Times, “Austrian Painter” is used as code for Hitler online.

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“The Registry confirms a name change for the Thoroughbred ‘Austrian Painter’ to ‘Merrylegs.’ Earlier this week, the Registry was notified through a formal complaint that the name was offensive, and we immediately began a review,” read the statement.

“The Registrar determined that the name is ineligible under Rule 6.F.9.d, which prohibits names that ‘are likely to be offensive or threatening based upon factors including, but not limited to, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, race, religion, politics, or sexual orientation,'” the club continued.

Speaking with Horse Racing Nation, the animal’s owner, Scott Herbertson, said that his wife was from Austria and the horse was named after her favorite painter, Gustav Klimt. On X, he added, “Yes that’s who I named it after I’m not changing the name.”

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He, apparently, had a change of heart and requested to rename the colt Merrylegs, which he said his daughter chose and is a reference to a pony in Black Beauty.

In their statement, The Jockey Club also said another of Herbertson’s horses, originally called New Order, “has been unnamed.” While the owner said on X that the name was a reference to his favorite band, it’s also a term for the Nazi party’s plans for Europe.

“We take these matters seriously and appreciate that they were brought to our attention,” the club concluded in its statement.

After the decision to rename Merrylegs was announced, one of Herbertson’s supporters on X said the decision was thanks to “Karens being Karens,” with the owner responding, “The men that pee sitting down are real angry.”