Wealth, luck, health: racehorse owners get creative choosing lucky names in English and Chinese

Seeing a racehorse with a name that features witty wordplay or a link to pop culture is a common sight at racetracks in Hong Kong. And for some punters, the witty name is what stands out and the reason they gamble on a particular horse.

But naming a horse is not as easy as it sounds. Breeders and owners in the city have to choose two names: one in English and one in Chinese.

Many choose auspicious names, picking words for wealth, luck or health. Others go for humour, pop culture or even food and money references. Superstition and fortune-telling also play a big role in picking lucky names.

A clever name, however, is no guarantee of success. K.L. Cheng, who once handled racehorse name approvals and is now head of dual-site stables operations at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said horses with strange or hard-to-read names “are rarely known, rarely have good results”.

To celebrate the Year of the Horse, the Post has compiled a list of memorable horse names in English and Chinese and their meanings.

Sir Charge (Gaau Hok Fai)

Anyone who has lost a bet at the track will appreciate the name Sir Charge, a play on the word “surcharge” – the extra fee often found on receipts.