An American racehorse owner has defended the name of his two-year-old colt, Austrian Painter, denying that it was intended as a reference to Adolf Hitler. Scott Herbertson, who owns and breeds the horse, said the name was meant as a tribute to Gustav Klimt, the Austrian artist favored by his wife.

The name Austrian Painter has drawn attention as a coded reference to Hitler, who was once an aspiring artist in Vienna before his rise as the Nazi leader. It has reportedly been used in some online circles to circumvent content filters. Herbertson had also proposed alternative names such as My Struggle and Braunau Star, both of which have associations with Hitler—whose autobiographical book Mein Kampf translates to My Struggle, and who was born in Braunau, Austria. Herbertson countered the latter reference by saying his wife’s grandfather was born in Braunau.

The controversy arose after Austrian Painter won its first race on Monday at Horseshoe Indianapolis, prompting scrutiny of the name. The Jockey Club, the governing body overseeing Thoroughbred naming conventions in the United States, ruled that Austrian Painter violated their regulations prohibiting offensive or threatening names. Under Rule 6.F.9.d, the organization bans names that could be considered offensive on the basis of race, religion, national origin, or other protected characteristics.

Following the ruling, Herbertson agreed to change the horse’s name to Merrylegs, a nod to a grey pony in the novel Black Beauty. Herbertson said he allowed his daughter to select the new name to avoid further confusion. Initially, he resisted changing the original name and highlighted his wife’s Austrian heritage in response to the criticism.

The Jockey Club confirmed that it had taken the naming issues seriously and noted that it also required the renaming of another horse owned by Herbertson, previously registered as New Order, over similar concerns.

The situation highlights the complex balance between cultural references and regulatory standards within the horse racing community, particularly when names touch on sensitive historical subjects.