Over the years we have seen plenty of horses come and go. Some have very good names. Some have very ordinary names. Some have very cute names while others have very clever names. Names, like beauty, are in the eye (or ear) of the beholder. Names tend to sound a lot better if the horse becomes top class and for some reason it is rare to find a horse with a ridiculous name, ever amount to any great heights. Personally I love names which show that the owner has put some thought into the naming of the animal whether it be on breeding or however they have arrived at the name.
What I have found over the years, is the way a horses name can create a lot of interest amongst people who would normally not have much interest in racing. A person can hear a name and it conjures up all sorts of images or thoughts and sometimes a name can even bring back memories.
The latter appears to be the case with a filly I own which has only had one trial and one race start before going for a spell. The filly shows enough ability to develop into a handy winner for me however it is her name which has created quite a bit of interest. The filly I refer to is called
ASCOLI.ASCOLI is by State City out of a mare called You Are My Destiny. It is not because it is either a clever name nor a cute name but simply a name which has created a bit of interest out there amongst a few non racing people. I have had a number of enquiries about the name, what it means, who came up with it and for what reason.
Those of you with an Italian background will no doubt know where ASCOLI is. The name ASCOLI is usually used together with the name PICENO as in ASCOLI PICENO.
Ascoli Piceno is a town in the Marche region, Italy, capital of the province of the same name. Its population is 51,630 inhabitants. The town lies at the confluence of the Tronto River and the Castellano Creek and is surrounded on three sides by mountains. Two natural parks about the town, one on the north-western flank (Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini) and the other on the south (Parco Nazionale dei Monti della Laga). Ascoli is well connected by railway to the Adriatic coast and the city of San Benedetto del Tronto, by highway to Porto d'Ascoli and by the Italian National Road 4 Salaria to Rome.(Courtesy Wikipedia)
Now that I have given you the geography lesson, the connection between ASCOLI and me is that it is the region from where my parents came from. I can only assume that there are a few other Italians living in W.A. who either came from the region or who's parents came from the region. Italy was fairly heavily hit during the second world war and like many other Italians back then, my parents left in search of a new and better life for their families. I have been lucky enough to visit the region a couple of times, the latest being three years ago when I spent nearly a month there with my brother.
Typical of the Italian people and tradition, we were afforded every courtesy and were taken from one place to the next by relatives and their friends, most whom I had never met previously. On our last night there, we were given a massive dinner in our honour with all the relatives coming from near and far to attend. I have to say it was probably one of the most moving evenings of my life.
I have managed to stay in touch with most of the relations and fully intend on returning to see them as often as possible. It is amazing that in my younger days I did not care much about my Italian origins however as I get older I tend to want to know more and more about my family history. No doubt I will uncover a skeleton or two as I dig away!!!!
If anyone who reads this has any connection to the area, please don't hesitate to get in touch and let me know about yourself. I am sure there will be a tale or two to be told. Meanwhile I must go and get myself organised for a busy day at the races. CIAO!
