This week miRunners celebrates not just one birthday but six birthdays. On August 1st there will be extra bags of carrots in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria for our thoroughbreds as they are each classified as a year older.
On Wednesday 1st August all thoroughbreds in Australia will get a year older. Those yearlings coming into their first preps will be qualified for racing and those who are two-years-old will become three-year-old race ready.
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But not all thoroughbreds were born on the same day, so just how did this miraculous event come about that each horse in Australia has the same birthday? And why is it on the first of August?
The selection of the 1st of August is explained by the breeding season. The gestation period of a horse is 11 months and the breeding season commences in September each year. Foals then hit the ground from August through to the end of December. It follows from this that all foals in this period are born in the same breeding season and therefore given the same age.
This breeding season also signals spring is just around the corner and spring is the mighty carnival when the first 2YO races commence.
From a racing point of view a single birthday is to standardise horse racing – the single date makes it more uniform. Some people refer to it as “a bit like kids in school” – you have to have a single date to group students. Back to racing: it means a horse born in August will race with horses born from August through to the end of December.
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It’s all about fairness of competition.
And this is so important because many of the races held in Australia and globally are held in age groups. The single date is used so age grades can be applied for races. The 2YO classics are the Blue Diamond and the Golden Slipper – races where only 2YO can enter.
At miRunners we have Saganaki turning three this week and Shezawitness, Not a Royal Doubt, Zoushack, Rubick X Slainte and Your Song x Sheeznodoubt turning two.
We wish all of them the happiest of birthdays and send a big cheer to all the thoroughbreds in Australia: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Thank you for everything you give to us, for us and for racing.
If you have wanted to own 2YO horses that have been nominated for the Golden Slipper and eligible for the Magic Millions Classic, check out Your Song x Sheeznodoubt and Rubick x Slainte as they are currently on sale. Units are $275 each and monthly fees are only $15 for your first unit and $5 for any additional units.
An important note to remember when you are speaking to your Northern Hemisphere friends that this birthday is celebrated on January 1st. No birthday cakes (or carrots) for them this week!
