Originally Posted by
Mark Croatto
"I also appreciate Dan's point about not wanting to push juveniles and what I have suggested above as an alternative is in the main still going to attract horses that were up and running in their 2yo season nevertheless they may not be quite as rushed. Unfortunately it would seem that we do have to balance the welfare issue with attracting owners which in itself requires balancing patience."
I'm at a loss to understand why you folk think it would be pushing a 2yo if changes were made as suggested. It is quite clear the breeding season will remain as it is (commencing September 1), and as it happens now, foals will be born any time from late September until early January, most however coming into the world between October and early November. The suggestion, if I understand it correctly, is that whilst they may already be a few months old their age won't commence until the 1st January after their birth. If it isn't that way then that is the way it should be. In this way most of these foals will actually be 26 to 27 months old when they officially turn 2, a far better proposition than what we presently have when see horses classified as 2 when they are actually anything between 20 and 22 months old.
I really don't have a problem with this as primarily it is to the foals' advantage. Additionally, it allows for far better programming of our racing season in that we can take full advantage of the better weather months rather than the system we have now where our best juvenile racing is conducted between June and August. Don't forget, New Zealand bred horses are technically 3 when they contest the 2yo Breeders Crown and that's never been a problem.
Regards
Mark