Juvenile races South Africa

Are the field sizes getting smaller and smaller?

Must be 100`s of unraced 3yo`s in the country?

The longer I leave my babies on the farm to mature the lower (on average) my vets bills are during their careers.

Many many years ago I read a study where they compared,post mortem,examples of horses which raced as 2 yr olds and those that did not race till 3.
The horses run at 2 showed distinct skeletal effects ,particularly of the back,and the evidence suggested that running horses as juveniles had similar issues that are found when immature human males do weightlifting.
I am surprised that I have never seen it written or heard it discussed again,although I know there are trainers who would prefer not to race horses at 2, but most owners understandably want to run them as soon as they are competitive,so it isn't really a practical option.
I just wonder whether the studies have been kept below the radar due to the controversy that would inevitably ensue.

every horse should be treated as an individual and trainers will tell you a horse will tell you when they ready not the other way round...you rush a horse it will make you wait

In the olden days the juvenile races started in October. Nowadays the Australians run their first big feature juvenile race before we have even had our first maiden juvenile race.

There is extensive literature available on the issue of horse maturity. The horse skeleton matures "bottom up"- legs, then torso and back. The process is not complete till age 5. Racing at 2 and 3 with a rider up is problematic, but the economics of horse ownership, and especially the 3yo classics push one towards this.
Youngsters, however, need to be active and have space to canter and gallop around- the concussion from their own bodyweight is needed to build and strengthen the bones.

So we have 3 Grade 1 races for 2 yr olds now..... 1160 meters 1200 meters & 1600 meters...... makes as much sense as a three rand coin

Guys , doesn't explain why no one is entering their 2yos

Makes reading future races so hard for punters

Eclipse started running at 5, raced for 2yrs and was never beaten or ever pushed in a race; the greatest of all time.

Horse Chestnut won as an early 2yo. CHAMP /Sea Cottage another !!!
They are bred to race, just a matter of putting in the proper background work.

the good wrote: Horse Chestnut won as an early 2yo. CHAMP /Sea Cottage another !!!
They are bred to race, just a matter of putting in the proper background work.

One of the greatest sires and horses of all time NATIVE DANCER - ran 9 times at 2 undefeated - Career 21 wins from 22 starts.
I've always wondered if Zebras hide their foals somewhere until they turn three before they teach them to run away from lions? :evil:

Big stables do. No time to break in and give good background work to youngsters. :dry: