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11 Weirdest Names Of Horses That Won The Preakness

The field is set. The 139th running of the Preakness Stakes takes place this Saturday, May 17th.

Fresh off the heels of a Kentucky Derby win, California Chrome, the favorite to win, will keep us glued (no pun intended) to the action to see if the California-bred colt will move one step closer to winning the Triple Crown. The last time that feat was accomplished? In 1978 by a horse named Affirmed.

While that's all well and good, we here at CBS Local Sports have taken an interest in the names of horses who have won the Preakness Stakes. While most names are pretty stately (kudos Knight of Ellerslie, 1884), others are, well, pretty weird. There may be incredible back stories explaining how these strange names came to be, but we're just going to take them at face value.

Without further ado, behold the 11 weirdest names of horses that have won the Preakness Stakes:

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(credit: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

11. Broomspun, 1921

Foreshadowing? My gut tells me that this horse's hair became a broom. My gut is usually right. Don't listen to what anyone else tells you.

10. Majestic Prince, 1969

What does one have to do to become "Majestic?" Is there an application process? Tell me I don't have to go to the DMV.

9. Bimelech, 1940

Excuse you. Oh, that wasn't a belch? Moving on.

8. War Cloud, 1918

You had me at "War," but lost me with "Cloud." Should I be concerned about the shape-shifters in the sky that sometimes look like farm animals?

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(credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

7. Duke of Magenta, 1878

While this was a real person (allegedly), I imagine a land of magenta-colored pastures and fields...which makes me want to puke. That's probably magenta there too. Too far? It's a fake land.

6. Native Dancer, 1953

As opposed to a foreign dancer?

5. Damrosch, 1916

Should I be offended? I don't like your tone.

4. Elocutionist, 1976

According to the Free Dictionary, an elocutionist is a person skilled in pubic speaking. OK, horse. Last time I checked, the only horse who could talk was Mister Ed.

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(credit: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

3. Bee Bee Bee, 1972

I don't know about you, but when someone shouts "bee" I get a little jumpy. Multiply that by 3 and it'd be a full on flee. Buzz on outta here, Bee Bee Bee.

2. Cairngorm, 1905

Named after a British mountain range? Let's hope not, because America.

1. Burgoo King, 1932

Once a Triple Crown contender having won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, Burgoo King did not run in the final race at Belmont. Maybe the sudden rise to horse racing fame got to him? I'm pretty sure the colt moved on to bigger and better things like lending its namesake to the future mega fast food chain Burger King. Probably.

Honorable Mentions: Buddhist, 1889; Fabius, 1956; Candy Spots, 1963; Forward Pass 1968; Tabasco Cat, 1994; Funny Cide, 2003.

If this list didn't satisfy your horse racing thirst, check out How I'd Bet $100 On The Preakness Stakes to get some betting advice from our horse racing expert.

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