Marie Gicquel, edited by Maxime Asseo 8:17 a.m., January 27, 2023, modified at 8:18 a.m., January 27, 2023
This weekend takes place the 102nd Prix d'Amérique at the Longchamp racecourse.
The opportunity to look into these very particular, surprising and often very long horse names which comply with strict rules: no more than 18 characters and a very clear alphabetical order to be respected...
"Yes, there is a mare called Décoloration!" Exclaims Thierry Léger, horse racing columnist for Europe 1, looking at the list of horses that will participate in the 102nd Prix d'Amérique at the Longchamp racecourse this weekend.
"Delia du pommereux", "hussard du landret", surprising names, often very long, which follow very strict rules.
Be careful, however, not to fall into ridicule, especially if the breeder intends to resell his horse, as is often the case.
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"Flame du gout" great favorite
The rules are clear: prohibition to choose a name beyond 18 characters and an alphabetical order to be respected.
"Only the letters W, X, Y and Z are excluded from this alphabetical counter", explains Thierry Léger, in order to avoid names like "there is no picture" or "just put", which are however two favorite expressions in the jargon of race goers.
On the starting line this weekend, "Décoloration" will be accompanied by the clogs "Hip hop haufor", "Horsi Dream" and "Italiano Vero".
"Flamme du goutier", will be the big favorite of this race.
The horse won the world championship in the mounted trot last week and only eight days later is running the world championship in the harnessed trot.
The name of this trotter may rub shoulders with other surnames of mythical horses such as "Ourasi" or "Jappeloup".
So will "Flamme du goutier" set the race on fire?
Answer of course this weekend at the Longchamp racecourse.