We thought you might enjoy hearing how some of the 2013 Kentucky Derby horses got their names. It can happen many ways – in the 1980’s Arthur Hancock asked people to submit names and 1989 Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence was named. There are times family and friends name the horses, people sometimes use part of the name of the sire/dam together, or just plain gut feeling. Bob and Beverly Lewis often chose names that were adjectives. Kentucky Derby historian Jim Bolus wrote a book about how Kentucky Derby winners were named.

Keep in mind that all names have to be approved and registered with The Jockey Club. Here’s is Part one of how some this year’s Derby contenders were named.

Charming Kitten: Sired by Kitten’s Joy, this horse got his name as part of a whole slew of “Kitten” horses owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

Falling Sky: Owners James Covello and Joseph Bulger of Newtown Anner Stud bought Falling Sky as a 3-year-old, and he was already named. Trainer John Terranova said he doesn’t know what prompted the name, and his sire (Lion Heart) and dam (Sea Dragoness) don’t provide any clues.

Frac Daddy: His owners are in the oil business in Montana and named this horse in honor of those who are involved with fracking, which is a process of mining for oil and natural gas.

Giant Finish: His sire is Frost Giant and his mare is Apocalyptic.

Goldencents: Named after Goldencents.com, the website of some of the owners of the horse. The site sells rare coins.

Golden Soul: Owner Charles Fipke said he always uses the sire and mare names as the basis for the names of his horses so that he can remember their pedigrees. Golden Soul is by Perfect Soul out of Hollywood Gold.

Itsmyluckyday: Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said the original owner of the horse had a secretary who wanted to name the horse Itsmyluckyday. “I love it,” Plesa said. “If I was going to have another child, I would name him Itsmyluckyday.”