Secretariat Inspired Dog Names

When Penny Chenery first came to her father's farm to help out, she began to look at her father's paperwork. She found that her father had made a deal with one of his breeding partners. When a certain mare was due to have a foal, Penny's father had an agreement with the breeding partner that a coin toss would decide who got to keep the foal and who was paid a fee for the colt. Mrs. Chenery won the coin toss, and, after she researched other foals resulting from this breeding pair, Penny decided to keep the colt. You see, Penny's research told her that each foal from this particular pair was a slow-starting horse, but they picked up speed as they ran. In fact, Penny felt the foal would be the perfect long-distance runner. Everyone told Penny that she was making a mistake; no foal from the mare (the mother) had ever won a long race. But Penny believed the combination of a fast mare as mom and a great long-distance runner in the father would make a fast colt that would be able to endure the long distances of the Triple Crown. Penny's bet paid off. "Big Red," as he was known to his family and handlers, not only had great speed, but he also had endurance. This endurance would help him to become the first Triple Crown winner in twenty-five years (1973). Before Red became a Triple Crown winner, he was given the name of Secretariat. 

When it comes to dogs and the name "Red," pop culture holds many examples of pups named after the ruddy color. Those who grew up in the 90s and early 2000s will remember Clifford the Big Red Dog; their parents will remember reading Clifford's books or watching Clifford's educational shows with their children. However, Clifford is just one of many "red" dogs.

Upon completing a Google search, one might be surprised to find a number of songs about a dog named Red. Blake Shelton sang about using a dog named Red to break out of prison; the main character supplied Red with a girlfriend, and the man escaped while the great bloodhound is occupied. George Jones sang a similar version. However, the cutest version is one in which a song about a dog named Red is belted out to the tune of "The Beverly Hillbillies." Red is a common name for a rusty-colored dog; many great canines have been memorialized in song with this simple moniker.