I am replacing the real names with made up ones, I just don't like seeing them appear in my game, it just doesn't feel right to me to be training the 2YO Red Rum etc.

As you all probably know I have done a horse name database with real life horse names from the past and present that can be downloaded under the mods section, and I like real horse names in my game it just makes if feel that bit better but each to their own.

its like playing fifa, you want to use real players.. Not fake players my opinion!

Yes, but in FIFA the real players are similar to their real life counterparts. Would you enjoy it as much if Wayne Rooney was West Brom's goalkeeper and Sergio Aguero was the reserve left back for Wolves? And all the other top players were playing out of position for the wrong teams? The idea of having real-life champion horses' names in SO5 is absolutely fine, but it would be a lot better if they were similar to how they were in real life! That's why I prefer to use non-famous horse names, and let the game create its own champions. Everyone plays the game differently though, and it's great that it's so much easier to customise in SO5 (exxplozion's new horses file took a huge amount of work, and is great for those that want it).