I love (and hate) having a bunch of fresh, shiny new 2yo's every year.
Two seasons earlier, you carefully chose all of the pairings and when these 2yo's are finally ready to begin racing, they are a fresh canvas on which a masterpiece is waiting to be painted. This in an intrinsically satisfying process. It's also a lot of fun to witness their first race, drinking in the pre-race stats and odds, then savoring the tension as your finger is poised over the Start Race button. Finally, enjoying the race itself.
On the other side of the coin, there is that letdown that we have all experienced, when your new horse breaks poorly, trails the pack, steadily loses ground, and finishes last. Now you realize that even though you've waited 2 seasons for this phenom, he's not ready to race and he'll probably be on the shelf for another year. Immaturity is the bane of every 2yo owner.
As Chelsey said in her blog today, patience is sometimes required with racehorses. Unfortunately, some of us don't possess it in sufficient quantities.
Many owners have sold off a horses, knowing full well that it was immature and that was the reason for it's troubles. They've waited two seasons for that dang horse and psychologically, they are all-in. The chips have been pushed out onto the table and there is no pulling them back. They think, "I'm not waiting another year to race this horse", and it's gone to the sales page. Happens all the time.
Most of the time, it's the right move. If they are shit early, they are usually shit later as well. But... not always. There have been many celebrated cases of owners giving up on youngsters too early, and there is nothing more painful than to watch a horse you kicked to the curb turn into a superstar for another stable.
So, there you have it. Love 'em or hate 'em, we'll all keep cranking them out because we all want that home-bred superstar and you gotta kiss a lot of frogs to find a Prince, right?
By the way, don't even get me started on all the 20-horse fields.
3 comments:
Hahahha i know that feeling im in the same boat my 2yo`s are doin shit but i didnt breed them to be 2yo`s i bred them to be 3yo`s + ... The way i see it is if u breed anything be prepared for a long wait no matter what
Foxie
It seems like my 2yo's for the last few years are all maturing somewhat slowly. I remember the good 'ole days when 2yo's used to run like crazy. Baron Gregor ran 20 times when he was a 2yo!
Baron Gregor did not belong to me btw.
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