A HORSE racing commentator joked owners of a runner with a very rude name were out to get him.
Poor old Bob Werley has had a brutal time calling the action on Japanese races of late.
Not long ago the monstrously-named Sumomomomomomomomo ran, making life hell for race-callers everywhere.
Turns out it can, arguably, get worse, as Werley posted a photo of one horse’s name in a race he called on Tuesday.
The bizarrely-titled Meiner Herz Ass was listed in the contest, with Werley writing alongside the photo: “When you know they’re just trolling you at this point.”
It’s not clear what the reasoning is behind the name, and the owners, K Thoroughbred Club Ruffian, have several other runners with seemingly innocuous titles.
Still, part of the fun of being an owner is splashing some cash on a horse and picking the name.
But you have to wonder what goes through some owners’ heads when choosing.
At least they can make for brilliant moments of magic from the commentary booth, as one US caller recently proved with his work.
The Christmas-themed Hohohoho brought out the best of the enthusiastic commentator.
And the horse even won the race – only to be demoted to third shortly after following a stewards’ enquiry.
Horse’s names can go disastrously wrong, though, as one British runner proved late last year.
Racing chiefs were forced to apologise after ‘Jungle Bunny’ ran at Wolverhampton, finishing sixth on her debut.
Punters were gobsmacked the racial slur was somehow allowed.
The horse’s connections quickly moved to change her name to Jungle Bells amid the uproar.
David Evans’ assistant trainer Emma Folkes, who named the horse, insisted it was all an ‘innocent mistake’.
She said: “I actually named the filly myself – I didn’t have a clue.
“Nobody in the yard had said anything and I can only apologise.
“I’ll take the blame. It was a totally innocent mistake.”
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