Big 2 yr old races??

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

I've posted this before ... but it's worth repeating ...

... in the 1940's, 1950's, and 1960's there were 26 champions who made their first starts as 2YOS in February, March, or April. Of the 26 ... only one ... Hail To Reason ... had a career that was shortened by injury.

There isn't any sport where successful professionals didn't begin to play against serious competition as kids. It's no different for horses. If a horse is going to be an accomplished professional ... he must start learning the trade early.

This lesson has been largely lost ... but with the frequent breakdowns of lightly-raced and lately-raced horses ... maybe someone will re-learn it.

BB,
You are certainly entitled to your opinion (and your facts to back it are good).
I work with horses all the time. Two year olds don't have their bones fully calcified. It's just my opinion but I think if they are pushed too early, problems will develop later. I can tell you ten stories for every two year old winner, bad stuff.
If you allow an analogy...would you put your eight year old son into a little league game, tell him to pitch as hard as he can for nine innings?
We don't do that.
The kid's bones and mucscles aren't ready for that.
Nor are two year old thoroughbreds.
Just my opinion.
DTS

[Gander]

Little league kids typically dont get euthanized on the playing field when they get injured. Horses can lose their lives and lets face it horses were born to run and eat grass, and when one gets injured at 2, typically never runs again. I say if parents are stupid enough to push their kids into sports at too early of an age, let them. Thats their decision. Horses dont have a mind of their own and are at the mercy of greedy people who only want to make mucho bucks. Its a shame and the correlation you are making between young kids playing ball and horses racing at 2 is a horrible one.

Sanford-Hopeful-Champagne-BC Juvenile are the big ones on the east coast.

[ForestofWonders]

Originally Posted by boldruler

Sanford-Hopeful-Champagne-BC Juvenile are the big ones on the east coast.

The BC Juvenile isn't always held on the east coast

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Gander

Little league kids typically dont get euthanized on the playing field when they get injured. Horses can lose their lives and lets face it horses were born to run and eat grass, and when one gets injured at 2, typically never runs again. I say if parents are stupid enough to push their kids into sports at too early of an age, let them. Thats their decision. Horses dont have a mind of their own and are at the mercy of greedy people who only want to make mucho bucks. Its a shame and the correlation you are making between young kids playing ball and horses racing at 2 is a horrible one.

I agree Gander!
There were some studies done in Europe a few years ago that seemed to indicate that 2 year old racing was actually good for horses, I have yet to see them successfully replicated (the scientific necessity to "prove" any construct/theory/hypothesis). I do believe that at a time when the breeding industry was operating in a sane and rational manner, young horses were sound enough to withstand early entry into competitive racing...now days when we breed unsound sires from unsound lines to unsound fillies from unsound lines, we shouldn't be surprised when careers are shortened more each year!

Originally Posted by Downthestretch55

BB,
You are certainly entitled to your opinion (and your facts to back it are good).
I work with horses all the time. Two year olds don't have their bones fully calcified. It's just my opinion but I think if they are pushed too early, problems will develop later. I can tell you ten stories for every two year old winner, bad stuff.
If you allow an analogy...would you put your eight year old son into a little league game, tell him to pitch as hard as he can for nine innings?
We don't do that.
The kid's bones and mucscles aren't ready for that.
Nor are two year old thoroughbreds.
Just my opinion.
DTS

2YO horses are the equivalent of larger high school age humans ... they're muscular and powerful. The 8YO humans you're describing would be late-stage weanlings as horses.

Racing ... and training for racing ... helps the development and fitness of the proper parts of their bodies ... and even more important ...

... helps them develop mentally into professional athletes.

There's absolutely no data which demonstrates that late starters and light racers are more sound ... or better race horses ... than early starters and heavy racers.

Run 'em early ... and run 'em a lot ... they're no more likely to break down than they would otherwise be ... and they'll be better prepared physically and mentally for the tough career as a race horse.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

2YO horses are the equivalent of larger high school age humans ... they're muscular and powerful. The 8YO humans you're describing would be late-stage weanlings as horses.

Racing ... and training for racing ... helps the development and fitness of the proper parts of their bodies ... and even more important ...

... helps them develop mentally into professional athletes.

There's absolutely no data which demonstrates that late starters and light racers are more sound ... or better race horses ... than early starters and heavy racers.

Run 'em early ... and run 'em a lot ... they're no more likely to break down than they would otherwise be ... and they'll be better prepared physically and mentally for the tough career as a race horse.

Bold Bkl
I'm only speaking from my own experiences.
All horses are different. Some mature earlier than others.
With that said, do you remember a filly named My Name's Michelle?
She ran at AQ this past winter, and won.
She was born and raised, and broke at the farm where I keep mine.
She got hurt early when a rider that was a bit too heavy for her took her to the training track before she was ready. It took her a long while to recover.
At least she got her win...but she hasn't raced back since.
That's only one example. There are quite a few more.
As I said, some can be raced early, but from my experience, it just might be better to give them a few more months to develop (calcify).
To me, it's easier to wait than push them to do something that they're not ready for.
DTS

[Danzig]

no hard and fast rules that fit all horses....but there have been studies that show that strenuous works followed by proper rest is a better method of training than long, slow, routine gallops for days and days on end. i don't think it's the training early on that hurts a horse, it's the TYPE of training that may be incorrect.

Originally Posted by Downthestretch55

Bold Bkl
I'm only speaking from my own experiences.
All horses are different. Some mature earlier than others.
As I said, some can be raced early, but from my experience, it just might be better to give them a few more months to develop (calcify).
To me, it's easier to wait than push them to do something that they're not ready for.
DTS

Everything you said is valid.

My only point is that once horses are ready to race ... they should be raced. And they should be kept racing as long as they're fit. And it doesn't hurt them to get them ready early in their 2YO year ... if they're capable of that.

Keeping a fit horse from racing doesn't improve his chances of avoiding injury in future races or future training. And lessens his chances of becoming a capable race horse.

Once they're ready to race ... they should race ... not hide out in the stable.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

Everything you said is valid.

My only point is that once horses are ready to race ... they should be raced. And they should be kept racing as long as they're fit. And it doesn't hurt them to get them ready early in their 2YO year ... if they're capable of that.

Keeping a fit horse from racing doesn't improve his chances of avoiding injury in future races or future training. And lessens his chances of becoming a capable race horse.

Once they're ready to race ... they should race ... not hide out in the stable.

BB,
I agree with you on that. Once they've gotten off to a good start, they should run. Total agreement.
I was just saying that it depends on the horse. Some are able to start sooner than others.
DTS

Originally Posted by Downthestretch55

BB,
I agree with you on that. Once they've gotten off to a good start, they should run. Total agreement.
I was just saying that it depends on the horse. Some are able to start sooner than others.
DTS

Exactly ...

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

Everything you said is valid.

My only point is that once horses are ready to race ... they should be raced. And they should be kept racing as long as they're fit. And it doesn't hurt them to get them ready early in their 2YO year ... if they're capable of that.

Keeping a fit horse from racing doesn't improve his chances of avoiding injury in future races or future training. And lessens his chances of becoming a capable race horse.

Once they're ready to race ... they should race ... not hide out in the stable.

glad to see someone else who thinks that way. back when zito had several very nice two year old colts, and opted to skip the bcj and 'save them' for the derby, i said it was a huge mistake, and got jumped on by many. um, zito went 0-fer in the derby. he possibly was sitting on a bc winner, and 2 yo HOY (wonder how much higher that stud fee would be now), and didn't go for it. and ended up losing his top colt to another trainer to boot.

a bird in the hand...

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

glad to see someone else who thinks that way. back when zito had several very nice two year old colts, and opted to skip the bcj and 'save them' for the derby, i said it was a huge mistake, and got jumped on by many. um, zito went 0-fer in the derby. he possibly was sitting on a bc winner, and 2 yo HOY (wonder how much higher that stud fee would be now), and didn't go for it. and ended up losing his top colt to another trainer to boot.

a bird in the hand...

And then there was Funny Cide. Barclay Tagg skipped the BC juvenile race with a very capable two year old and opted to go to the Derby with him, and we all know what happened. Funny Cide is still running today because he wasn't raced too early. I love Barclay Tagg. I wish more trainers were like him. He knows how to keep his horses sound.

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

And then there was Funny Cide. Barclay Tagg skipped the BC juvenile race with a very capable two year old and opted to go to the Derby with him, and we all know what happened. Funny Cide is still running today because he wasn't raced too early. I love Barclay Tagg. I wish more trainers were like him. He knows how to keep his horses sound.

Tagg is a real horseman. Always does what is best for his horses. Was really patient with Showing Up it worked out for him. The horse has all sorts of problems at 2 and Tagg didn't run him. I was a little surprised he tried to take on Barbaro, but he ran a great derby and got a ton of foundation out of the race, as you can tell by the fact that the distance in the Colonial was nothing for him.

[Pointg5]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

And then there was Funny Cide. Barclay Tagg skipped the BC juvenile race with a very capable two year old and opted to go to the Derby with him, and we all know what happened. Funny Cide is still running today because he wasn't raced too early. I love Barclay Tagg. I wish more trainers were like him. He knows how to keep his horses sound.

FC ran in those NY Bred Stakes Races, I don't think he was ever considered for the BCJ, I believe did not FC faced open company until the Holy Bull Stakes of his 3yo year. Also, I remember Tagg being hesitant about wanting to go to the Derby, I think it was the owners pushing for that, I could be wrong, but I really doubt he was thinking Derby for this horse during his 2yo year.

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

Funny Cide is still running today because he wasn't raced too early.

Ummm ... not quite.

Funny Cide is still racing today ... because he's a GELDING!

Another SHEEEESH !!!

[SniperSB23]

Here are the Graded 2YO stakes for this year:

Date Grade Race Track
5/4 3 Kentucky Breeders' Cup Stakes CD
7/4 3 Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes HOL
7/8 3 Bashford Manor Stakes CD
7/27 2 Sanford Stakes SAR
8/13 2 Best Pal Stakes DMR
8/17 2 Saratoga Special Stakes SAR
9/4 1 Hopeful Stakes SAR
9/6 2 Del Mar Futurity DMR
9/10 3 Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Futurity AP
9/23 2 Futurity Stakes BEL
Sep 3 Sapling Stakes MTH
Sep 3 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes TP
10/7 1 Lane's End Breeder's Futurity Stakes KEE
10/14 1 Champagne Stakes BEL
10/29 3 Nashua Stakes BEL
10/29 3 Iroquois Stakes CD
Oct 2 Norfolk Stakes OSA
11/4 1 Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile CD
11/25 2 Remsen Stakes AQU
11/25 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes CD
Nov 3 Generous Stakes HOL
Nov 3 Hollywood Prevue Stakes HOL
Dec 3 Boyd Gaming's Delta Jackpot Stakes DED
Dec 1 Hollywood Futurity HOL

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

2YO horses are the equivalent of larger high school age humans ... they're muscular and powerful. The 8YO humans you're describing would be late-stage weanlings as horses.

Racing ... and training for racing ... helps the development and fitness of the proper parts of their bodies ... and even more important ...

... helps them develop mentally into professional athletes.

There's absolutely no data which demonstrates that late starters and light racers are more sound ... or better race horses ... than early starters and heavy racers.

Run 'em early ... and run 'em a lot ... they're no more likely to break down than they would otherwise be ... and they'll be better prepared physically and mentally for the tough career as a race horse.

A two year old horse is the equivalent to a six year old child. 1 year horses=3 years humans. This is a proven fact.

However, you and DTS are both right. A two-year old can and should be raced if they are fit, sound, and mature enough to do it. It all depends on the individual animal. The problem is that a lot of trainers/owners push delicate unsound animals way too much.

[Danzig]

i think the biggest problem would be breeders who have surgery done to correct foals who are born with problems, and then disclose nothing. no clue that they were incorrect, and then after racing, off to the shed to make others like them.
then there are those like GZ--too fragile to run more than 3/4 times a year, but hey, let's book 100 mares to him. fantastic.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

A two year old horse is the equivalent to a six year old child. 1 year horses=3 years humans. This is a proven fact.

However, you and DTS are both right. A two-year old can and should be raced if they are fit, sound, and mature enough to do it. It all depends on the individual animal. The problem is that a lot of trainers/owners push delicate unsound animals way too much.

i disagree with the 1 year equalling 3 in a human, especially early on. a horses life span may be the third of a humans, but to say a 3 yo is the equivalent to a nine year old child would be incorrect. horses mature much more quickly, with most equating a 2 yo to a teenager.