The Labour Day long weekend has arrived. For racing enthusiasts, this means that the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival reaches its climax with the Epsom-Metropolitan double.
Down in Melbourne, their Spring Carnival has passed the ‘phoney’ stage and is now getting serious with the running of the Turnbull Stakes.
So I have a provocative question to contemplate as the season is about to take ‘full swing’ – why isn’t there a universal birthday for all thoroughbred racehorses?
Yes, I know that August 1 is the given birth date for all thoroughbred racehorses in the Southern Hemisphere. But in the Northern Hemisphere, January 1 is the birth date of all thoroughbreds.
Why isn’t the date the same for both hemispheres?
The days don’t even mirror each other. Gestation periods run for approximately 11 months and 11 days.
This means that in the Southern Hemisphere, dams/mares conceive roughly in September (beginning of spring) and foal in July (middle of winter).
In the north, dams/mares conceive roughly in February (end of winter) and foal in December (beginning of winter). Or thereabouts.
Since thoroughbred racing is historically stronger in the Northern Hemisphere, especially through Europe and USA, let’s assume for the purpose of the exercise that January 1 becomes the universal birth date for all race horses.
What impact would this have on the Australian racing calender?
A quick glance would show that some carnivals would be more affected than others, especially with regard to three-year-old and two-year-old racing.
The country’s premier carnival, in Melbourne in spring, would barely be affected. In fact, it would be considerably enhanced by a change in the horses’ birthday.
At present, three-year-olds race in the prestigious Victoria Derby and Oaks over 2500 metres at only three months into their age year.
With the change in birth date, they would be considerably closer to four and much more mature. Racing three-year-olds in both the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups would again become fashionable.
On the other hand, the country’s second biggest carnival – the Sydney Carnival in autumn – would have to consider its position.
Suddenly three- and two-year-olds would go from being about nine months into their age year to being only four or five months into their age year.
Could much younger three- and two-year-olds run in races such as the Australian Derby and Golden Slipper at a more immature age?
Perhaps.
Pre-1980, the sequence of Derbies/Oaks was as follows: AJC (early-Oct), SAJC (mid-Oct), VRC (early-Nov), QTC ( late-Nov) and WATC (mid-Dec).
It might require some of these Derbies and Oaks to be rescheduled.
In any case, considering the change of birthday to January 1, I would suggest the following changes to the season, along with signature races.
The periods given represent the peak dates for each carnival, but not necessarily the entire span:
1. Tasmanian Summer, mid-Feb: Hobart Cup (2400m) and Launceston Cup (2600m).
2. Melbourne Autumn, late-Feb/early-Mar: Australian Cup (2000m), Newmarket Hcp (1200m), Lightning Stks (1000m), Futurity Stks (1600m).
3. Sydney Autumn, early/mid-Apr: Doncaster Hcp (1600m), Australian Derby/Oaks (2400m), Sydney Cup (3200m), HE Tancred Stks (2400m), Golden Slipper (1200m).
4. Adelaide Autumn, mid/late-Apr: Goodwood Hcp (1200m), Adelaide Cup (3200m).
5. Brisbane Winter, early/mid-June: Stradbroke Hcp (1400m), Brisbane Cup (2400/3200m), Queensland Derby/Oaks (2400m), Doomben 10,000 (1350m), Doomben Cup (2020m).
6. Darwin Dry Season, late-July/early-Aug: Darwin Cup (2000m), NT Derby/Oaks (2000m), Palmerston Sprint (1200m).
7. Adelaide Spring, mid-Sept: SA Derby/Oaks (2500m).
8. Sydney Spring, late-Sept/early-Oct: Epsom Hcp (1600m), Metropolitan Hcp (2600m), Spring Champion (2000m), Golden Rose (1400m).
9. Melbourne Spring, mid-Oct/early-Nov: Melbourne Cup (3200m), Caulfield Cup (2400m), WS Cox Plate (2040m), Victorian Derby/Oaks (2500m), Blue Diamond (1200m).
10. Tasmania Spring, mid/late-Nov: Tasmanian Deby/Oaks (2200m).
11. Perth Summer, Dec: Perth Cup (2400/3200m), CB Cox Stks (2400m), WA Derby/Oaks (2400m), Railway Stks (1600m).
I have tried not to change too much, although there is scope for movement of race carnivals, or key races.
It’s quite certain three-year-old and two-year-old races would require a rethink. One significant change I have made is to move the Blue Diamond from the Melbourne autumn to spring.
The ATC, responsible for Sydney racing, would have to also contemplate moving the Derby and Oaks back to its original early October date.
Please note also that the Adelaide Cup is presently run in March, but used to be run in May. There is much keen and vigorous debate in SA as to the best date to hold the Adelaide Cup.
Readers may disagree vehemently with my proposals, but please share your thoughts on this.
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