For a horse to be eligible to race under Rules or in point-to-points they must be registered with a unique name, which will remain with them for life. This is to distinguish each horse from others in a race and allows bloodlines and pedigrees to be easily traced.

Most applications are processed and completed within a day for about 13,000 names each year, and at any one time there are more than 250,000 names unavailable.

Are there any restrictions? Yes – a few:

• Names can have a maximum of 18 characters including spaces and punctuation.  
• A racehorse’s name must not include the name of a real person or someone who has been dead for less than 50 years unless their written permission or the permission of their family is provided.
• Names must not have any obvious commercial significance.  
• A name must not include suggestive, vulgar or obscene words.  
• Meanings shouldn’t be in poor taste and can’t be offensive to any religious, ethnic or political groups.  

Around 3,000 names are protected - including the winners of major races and the names of famous horses that have officially retired to honour the horse.

Names can be applied for through the Racing Administration System.

Names availability can be checked either through the BHA website or the Racing Administration System.

If you do not have access to the Racing Administration System you can download an application form for GB/IRE breds, and an application form for foreign breds from the related documents section below.

The full rules on Registration of horse names can also be downloaded from this section.