When I bought Speedy, I was many years into endurance riding and had completed numerous races. My number two horse was being downgraded to a family trail horse, so I needed a new back up horse for my mare.
I was looking specifically for a gray gelding. I spotted Speedy on Endurance.net and made arrangements to see him. He checked off most of my boxes, so I bought him. He was a very green-broke three year old.
Speedy was to be my next endurance horse, but I didn't know how quick he'd be. Slow or fast, I thought it would be cute if he had a racing name. Even back then I was following NASCAR, so we tried out a few drivers' names: Dale, Jimmie, Gordon - but none of them quite worked.
Then I thought of Speed Racer. You might remember the cartoon; I loved it. There was this catchy little jingle that went something like Go, Speed Racer; Go, Speed Racer; Go, Speedy Racer ... Goooooo!