2 yo vs 3 yo vs 4 yo

[DaveDuggan]

I have some questions for you! I\'m trying to get to know the thoroughbred horses really well, and thought what better place to ask than here. So, here goes:

I\'m most interested in learning more about the differences (in lengths at say 6 f, 8 f and 12 f) between the age groups 2yo, 3yo and 4yo, and in particular about their development. Do anyone here feel confident that they know anything about that?

1. How much better would a average 4yo be in say april than a average 3 yo, and the same for 3yo\'s and 2 yo\'s?

2. And what about in september?

3. And also, I\'m wondering about the elite horses, how good can a 2 yo be (what\'s the regular year top in say april and september?), and how good can a 3 yo be?

4. When are a horse (in average) fully developed and running as fast as it\'ll ever do?

5. And last, do you think the development of a 2 yo and a 3 yo is due only to physically changes, or to training as well (uh well of course it helps to practice but what I mean is in Norway, where there\'s season start in april, will the horses be better as a result of training and races and experience, or just because they will grow? I guess I could ask if that horse was a 4 yo without race experience - how much could you expect it to develop then by racing (if the training strategy was the same as for example for a 3 yo)). A nobel prize is deserved for the guy that understood what I meant by that!

If anyone can point me in the direction of anything it would be great. But I haven\'t got my hopes up because why should you..

Thanks anyway, if you have read this far!