Same Old "Name"

[DaTruth]

I don't know understand why the Jockey Club, when there are so many possible names available, allows the name of a graded stakes winner to be recycled a mere 13 years after the runner retired. Same Old Wish, a 1990 foal, won the Kelso in 1996 and the River City in 1996 and 1997 on his way to over $800k in career earnings. The new Same Old Wish makes his debut on Saturday at Belmont in the 7th race. The earlier Same Old Wish was a gelding, so there is no concern about the new Same Old Wish running against sons and daughters of the old Same Old Wish. Nevertheless, this is a sport whose long history is a large part of its appeal, so I would expect its gatekeepers would do more to honor the legacies of some of its retired warriors, even if it means not making the name Same Old Wish available for a few more years.