What similarities exist between a basketball icon and a promising young horse? While it might seem like an odd question, the simple answer lies in a shared moniker: Ewing.
Patrick Ewing, after receiving the Naismith Award as the premier college basketball player in 1984-’85 while representing Georgetown University, enjoyed a distinguished 17-year tenure in the National Basketball Association. Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, he earned the NBA Rookie of the Year title in 1985-’86, having been the first overall pick in the NBA Draft by the New York Knicks.
Ewing, a 7-foot center, recorded an average of 21 points and 9.8 rebounds throughout his celebrated career, which earned him a place in the Hall of Fame, 11 All-Star selections, and seven appearances on the All-NBA team. He consistently features on various All-Time top 100 NBA player rankings.
On July 5, 2025, at Saratoga Race Course in New York, a 2-year-old thoroughbred also named Ewing commenced his racing journey, securing a decisive 12-length victory in a 5 ½-furlong dirt sprint. This gray or roan colt is the offspring of Knicks Go, the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic champion, and represents one of his initial progeny to race.
Ewing, akin to his basketball counterpart, demonstrated significant promise, leading to his acquisition for $585,000 at a 2-year-olds in training auction in April by a syndicate comprising D. J. Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Kenneth Freirich. Notably, the initial two entities also co-own Sandman, a highly regarded Grade 1-winning 3-year-old, and Ewing shares the same trainer, Mark Casse, as Sandman.
“He emerged from the race in excellent condition,” Casse remarked. “He executes everything with remarkable ease.”
Ewing is currently listed with morning-line odds of 8-5 as he prepares for his stakes debut in the $200,000 Saratoga Special Stakes on the upcoming Saturday.
It’s conceivable that Ewing won’t be the last horse named after a current or former Knicks player. Perhaps another Knicks Go colt might inspire owners to consider names such as Clyde, Frazier, Starks, Oakley, or Brunson. Indeed, Thibs could be quite a fitting name for a Knicks Go colt.
When Nyquist, named after National Hockey League star winger Gustav Nyquist, triumphed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in 2015 and Kentucky Derby in 2016, it became evident that he would embark on a career as a breeding stallion. The expectation that he might spark a wave of hockey-inspired names proved accurate – as demonstrated by Bedard, Brodeur, Gretzky the Great, Lemieux, Sean Avery, and The Great One below – but racehorses have been named after many luminaries from other sports throughout the years.
Below is a curated selection of some of my personal favorites in the U.S., spanning from Sarazen, the 1924 and 1925 Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer, to the present day. Your own preferences are welcome on social media.
Bedard — This Nyquist colt, named in tribute to Chicago Blackhawks rising star center Connor Bedard (not to be confused with former Orioles left-handed pitcher Erik Bedard), secured a placing in a Canadian classic during 2024.
Boitano — This talented gelding by Nyquist, graded stakes-placed on the track, drew his name from an athlete prominent in a different ice sport, Olympic figure skater Brian Boitano.
Brooks Robinson — This Maryland-bred horse by Not For Love was named in honor of the premier defensive third baseman of all time, the revered Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer. This racehorse achieved victory in five of his 26 starts.
Brodeur — This name feels like a potential pitfall, particularly for a long-suffering Philadelphia Flyers supporter. Stakes-placed Brodeur, also by Nyquist, is named after New Jersey Devils star goalie Martin Brodeur, a three-time Stanley Cup victor and four-time recipient of the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender.
Chris Evert — A Hall of Fame racehorse named after a Hall of Fame tennis player, known as America’s tennis darling. This champion 3-year-old filly of 1974 secured victory in 10 of her 15 races, including three Grade 1 events.
Degrom — The racehorse in question is named for Jacob DeGrom, the electrifying yet injury-prone Major League Baseball pitcher and two-time Cy Young Award recipient. DeGrom achieved victory in 10 of his 41 starts between 2016 and 2020.
Dehere — Named for Seton Hall men’s basketball standout Terry Dehere, the Big East Player of the Year in 1992-’93 who went on to play six seasons in the NBA, the racehorse Dehere was named champion 2-year-old male in 1993.
Dimaggio — A graded stakes winner during the 1970s, Dimaggio, sired by Bold Hitter, was named in tribute to the New York Yankees iconic outfielder who achieved an unparalleled 56-game hitting streak during his Hall of Fame career.
Ewing — This promising colt by Knicks Go will have to strive mightily if he wishes to attain the same level of success as his namesake, the Hall of Fame NBA center.
Garoppolo — From 2020 to 2022, he won two of eight starts and appeared in a couple of stakes races, while his namesake, NFL QB Jimmy Garoppolo, fared better against top competition with a 4-2 record in the playoffs to complement a strong regular season performance over 11 seasons.
Gosger — The 2025 Preakness and NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes runner-up was named after MLB journeyman Jim Gosger, who played professional baseball in the 1960s and ’70s with six different clubs.
Gretzky the Great — A Grade 1 winner by Nyquist named for the greatest hockey player of all time, Wayne Gretzky.
Gronkowski — Finishing second to Triple Crown victor Justify in the 2018 Belmont Stakes, Gronkowski derives his name from four-time All-Pro tight end and four-time Super Bowl Champion Rob Gronkowski.
Halladay — Halladay, by War Front, secured a Grade 1 victory in the Fourstardave Handicap of 2020, in addition to three other stakes wins. His namesake, Roy Halladay, was the more decorated athlete, earning two Cy Young Awards during his Hall of Fame career as a dominant pitcher in Major League Baseball.
Joe Frazier — “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier stands as a true legend in boxing, an Olympic gold medalist and heavyweight champion primarily celebrated for his unforgettable clashes with Muhammad Ali. The racehorse Joe Frazier, in contrast, was a reliable gelding who won seven of his 29 starts but never achieved the recognition of his namesake.
Kobe’s Back — This five-time stakes winner, Kobe’s Back, began his racing career approximately two months after NBA Hall of Famer and all-time great Kobe Bryant suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon. Bryant returned to play for two more seasons before his tragic passing in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020.
Lemieux — A stakes-winning Florida-bred by Nyquist, Lemieux received his name in honor of Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame center Mario Lemieux, the top pick in the 1984 NHL Draft who guided the Pens to consecutive Stanley Cup titles in 1991 and ’92.
Marciano — The victor of the 2001 Tesio Stakes, Marciano also participated in that year’s Preakness Stakes. He was named for Rocky Marciano, the undefeated legendary boxer and relentless knockout artist who reigned as heavyweight champion from 1952 until his retirement in 1956 at age 32. The racehorse Marciano was sired by the stallion Two Punch.
Nadal — In 2020, Nadal triumphed in all four of his starts, including a victory in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby (which was held in two divisions that year), prior to an injury sidelining him from the Kentucky Derby. He now serves as a stallion in Japan. Nadal was named for one of the most admired figures in tennis history, Rafael Nadal, who has secured a record 14 French Open titles among his 22 career Grand Slam victories and received the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in 2011.
Nyquist — The champion 2-year-old male of 2015 became the first undefeated Kentucky Derby victor since Smarty Jones. He was named after NHL star Gustav Nyquist by owner and devout hockey enthusiast J. Paul Reddam, and his success inspired many hockey-themed racehorse names.
Sarazen — Named for one of the greatest golfers of all time, Gene Sarazen, who won the U.S. Open and PGA Championship in 1922, the first two of his seven majors. Sarazen, the racehorse, debuted in 1923 and was Horse of the Year in 1924 and 1925.
Sean Avery — Sean Avery, a Grade 1-winning racehorse who achieved victory in half of his 14 career starts, shares his name with a professional hockey player who played left wing for multiple teams and gained notoriety as an agitator unafraid to engage with opponents, twice leading the NHL in penalty minutes.
Syndergaard —Noah Syndergaard, a flame-throwing right-handed pitcher nicknamed “Thor,” gained prominence with the New York Mets, delivering dazzling performances during his rookie season and pitching in the 2015 World Series. He was selected for the All-Star team the following year, but subsequent injuries hampered his career and reduced his fastball velocity. His namesake also began impressively, winning a stakes race in his second start as a 2-year-old, and remained competitive at that level through his 6-year-old season in 2020.
The Great One —The Great One, a Grade 2-placed racehorse by Nyquist, is named in tribute to Wayne Gretzky, whose nickname is “The Great One.” Gretzky holds the record for most points in NHL history and has more career assists (1,963) than any other player has total points (goals and assists).
Tikkanen — Tikkanen, the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, was named after one of Wayne Gretzky’s teammates with the Edmonton Oilers. Esa Tikkanen, a pesky winger, established himself as one of the foremost defensive forwards in the sport while securing five Stanley Cup championships.
Tyson — In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the fights of heavyweight boxer “Iron” Mike Tyson were must-see events as he overwhelmed opponents and built a reputation as one of the sport’s all-time great knockout artists. Tyson, a multiple graded stakes winner by Tapit, was named by co-owner and co-breeder John Sikura in honor of the boxer.
Utley — Chase Utley, the Philadelphia Phillies All-Star second baseman and 2008 World Series champion, was highly regarded in “the City of Brotherly Love” for his intelligent and relentless playing style. His namesake on the racetrack, a Grade 2 winner by Smart Strike, won six of 25 career starts.
