Secretariat Inspired Dog Names

Introduction

Sometimes humans and animals connect on a different level, as in the story of Secretariat, champion racehorse and owner Penny Chenery. Known to his trainers and handlers as "Big Red," Secretariat was the first horse to win Triple Crown honors in a twenty-five year period (prior to his win in 1973, the last winner took the Crown in 1958). The odds were always against Secretariat. However, Mrs. Chenery studied breeding. She took over her father's farm when he had a stroke, and she saved the farm by betting that a colt whose breeding history she'd studied would be worth millions. Although many tried to persuade her to sell the farm and forget about racing, Chenery never gave up on the big red colt, and he did not disappoint her.

Secretariat Inspired Dog Names in Pop Culture

Featured Famous Secretariat Inspired Dog

Red

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.

Secretariat Inspired Dog Name Considerations

Secretariat is a film that is primarily about a very special horse, and the relationship between this horse, his handlers, and his owner, Penny Chenery. Mrs. Chenery saw something special in Secretariat. Although she initially developed an interest in Secretariat before he was even born, the connection between Mrs. Chenery and "Big Red" was undeniable. At times, Red seemed to understand the things that Penny said to him. In fact, the night before one major race, Penny went down and visited with Red. The next day, it appeared as though the big colt had heard and considered her request.

This type of relationship has been observed in dog/human relationships as well. Fortunately, this is evident in all breeds of dog. Sometimes, it is even evident in mixed breed dogs. All that is required is one human that believes in the possibility of greatness in the dog. Some dogs are naturally heroic. The Golden Retriever was bred to be uniquely tuned into their human companions. Today, they are great therapy dogs. The German Shepherd has served as a police or military dog for decades. The Belgian Malinois is specifically bred for police work. Although these are just a few breeds, any dog can make a connection with their humans in the way Secretariat connected to Mrs. Chenery.

Male Secretariat Inspired Dog Names

Votes	Name	Vote
0	Mark Mark Ciardi worked as a producer on the film
0	Bill Bill Johnson was the executive producer on the film
0	Lucien Lucien Laurin is the flamboyantly-dressed trainer of Big Red
0	John John Malkovich played the role of Lucien Laurin
0	Dylan Dylan Walsh plays the role of Jack Tweedy
0	Jack Jack Tweedy is Penny Chenery's husband
0	Nelsan Nelsan Ellis played the role of Eddie Sweat
0	Eddie Eddie Sweat is a caretaker of Big Red, he and the horse also have a special relationship
0	Ronnie Ronnie Turcotte is the jockey who rode Secretariat to the Triple Crown
0	Otto Otto Thorwarth played the role of jockey great Ronnie Turcotte
0	Fred Fred Thompson plays the role of Bull Hancock, a close friend of the Chenery family
0	Bull Bull Hancock is a friend of the Chenery family, he advises Penny
0	James James Cromwell played the role of Ogden Phillips
0	Ogden Ogden Phillips is the owner of Secretariat's father, he tells Penny she is making a mistake to keep the foal
0	Chris Chris Chenery is Penny's father, he suffers a stroke that leaves Penny watching over the farm
0	Scott Scott Glenn plays the role of Chris Chenery
0	Ben E.V. Benjamin is a trainer who is stealing from the Chenery family
0	Mike Mike Harding played the role of E.V. Benjamin
0	Robert Robert Kleburg is associated with the racing industry
0	Richard Richard Fullerton plays the role of Robert Kleberg
0	Drew Drew Roy plays the role of Seth Hancock
0	Seth Seth Hancock is Bull's son, he presents conflict in wanting to buy the Chenery farm
0	Jacob Jacob Rhodes plays the role of John Tweedy
0	Hollis Hollis Chenery is Penny's brother; he wants to sell the farm rather than pay taxes on it
0	Earl Earl Jansen is a dishonest trainer later fired by Penny
0	Graham Graham McTavish played the role of Earl Jansen
0	Grant Grant Whitacre plays the role of Paul Feliciano
0	Forry Forry Smith plays the obnoxious owner of a racehorse competing against Secretariat
0	Cullen Cullen Wallace is one of the racehorse owners at the time of Secretariat's rise to fame
0	Wynn Wynn Reichert plays the role of the Chenery's pastor and advisor

Female Secretariat Inspired Dog Names

Votes	Name	Vote
0	Penny Penny Chenery was the owner of Secretariat
0	Diane Diane Lane played the role of Penny Chenery
0	Margo Margo Martindale played the role of Miss Ham in the film
0	Carissa Carissa Capobianco played the role of Sarah Tweedy
0	Sarah Sarah Tweedy is the elder daughter of Penny Chenery
0	Kate Kate Tweedy is the younger daughter of Penny Chenery
0	Jennifer Jennifer Trier played the role of a receptionist in the film
0	Pam Pam Pryor played the minor role of a waitress in the film
0	Audrey Audrey Scott played the role of six-year-old Penny
0	Tricia Tricia Aguirre played the role of a cheering fan at one of the horse races
0	Sonya Sonya Delormier played the minor role of a Belmont hippie
0	Megan Megan Chelf Fisher played the role of another Belmont hippie
0	Christina Christina Gabrielle played the role of a fan at the Belmont Stakes race
0	Lori Lori Gabrielle played the role of a racehorse owner
0	Samantha Samantha Hack played the role of a racetrack patron in the film
0	Stefania Stefania Marcone played the role of a racing fan at the Saratoga race
0	Lisette Lisette Markham portrayed a racing fan in the film
0	Chelsea Chelsea McLean played the role of an uncredited horse owner
0	Lindsay Lindsay Dean Miller played the role of a hippie racing fan
0	Lisa Lisa Nicholson played the role of a Kentucky Derby attendee
0	Cassidy Cassidy Rae Owens played the role of a Belmont fan
0	Kayla Kayla Perkins played the role as a Belmont racing fan
0	LaDonna LaDonna Pettijohn played an uncredited role as a racing fan
0	Rhonda Rhonda Schaubert played the role of an unnamed horse owner
0	Natalia Natalia Sezer is a fan at one of the races
0	Rhyan Rhyan Sinclair is the young girl with a camera
0	Sandy Sandy Smith played a minor role, this name fits a tan-colored dog
0	Gianna Gianna Wolf is one of many extras who played racetrack fans
0	Jayne Jayne Armstrong was an associate producer of the film
0	Kim Kim Winther co-produced the film