b4breeding

There’s a current debate in USA about retiring stallions to stud duties before they have raced in 3yo / 4yo or open classes. The Jeff Gural run Meadowlands is staying staunch, but Hamiltonian and Woodbine associations are pulling away after the pilot that Gural introduced. Behind that, is the whole debate about what emphasis we put on younger racing, and whether that is something that makes or breaks our wider industry. Like everyone, I love following the 2yo workouts, trials and racing, and seeing what is popping up in terms of individual horses, maternal families and sires. But that is only one measure of a horse’s potential, and increasingly I feel uneasy about the drive to get horses showing up early and getting a return for owners, versus the longer term potential of a horse. Mostly trainers are astute at judging that, and will give an owner a clear steer. But owners and breeders also need to have realistic expectations that are also supported by longer term rewards. Which is basically what Gural is trying to achieve, even if he does antagonise many vested interests. As is shown with Father Patrick, as well as many European male horses, a horse can be a sire and also race as an older horse. An aged mare can race and have embryo transfers. It is a win/win. But many of us cannot see the wood for the trees. The desire to create “a racehorse” starts so early for many horses, and although the breed is getting better earlier, there are some basic laws of nature and development which can’t be overlooked. It is like having an Olympics for 12 to 15yos.  And do we wonder when many “child prodigies” don’t progress or break down in some way (emotional or physical), or are eventually outstripped by more mature people? Daniel Vettori is 36. Wonderful American pacer Foiled Again is 10 or 11. Pembrook Benny has just retired at 10. Lydia Ko is a world champ at 18. But these are all exceptions. The middle range is of course where physical and mental maturity catches up with raw potential, and you end up with an athlete. There is something very satisfying in seeing champions ripen with age rather than seeing talent burning bright and early – and sometimes out. It reminds us that a horse may only be getting to physical maturity as a late 3 or 4yo or older. Those are young bones and young minds that we are putting into harness. I’m a strong believer in trying out a horse at 2yo if it has any natural ability, but only to a point where it shows what it really needs and how natural it is under the pressure of racing. I often wonder if the “waste” of untried horses in the back paddock of past years has just been replaced by the “waste” of young horses tried too soon and too hard and rejected or broken down or broken as a result. When I see my foals growing and developing, I realise just how much they are gawky young kids, getting to find their feet and grow their bones, with muscle and temperament development still ahead of them. A few are precocious, some are not. But they all deserve our time and patience, and careful observation regarding their underlying ability. My advocacy to give a  longer term return to breeders is based on a horse’s performance – patient breeders (and patient owners) deserve some real recognition for waiting and letting a horse find itself. Often these are the horses that make up the majority of race fields, week in and week out. Selling early on potential is one thing. Getting real performance on the track is usually harder – and definitely worth rewarding.