Waikato Stud's first foal of the season takes a frolic

Waikato Stud's first foal was sired by No Excuse Needed, from Etoile Centieme. Picture / Sarah Ivey

He was born on July 31 but his official birthday is August 1.

Indeed, horses have always been just a tad mysterious. But the explanation is quite straightforward.

August 1 is celebration day for all race horses - the date on which they graduate from one age classification to the next.

At 4am on Monday, Waikato Stud, near Matamata, saw the first birth of its expected 250 foals for the season.

"The colt was a couple of weeks early," said the stud's public relations manager, Jeremy Rogers.

Several years ago the new foal would have been virtually worthless to its owners because of the date on which it was born, he said.

Previously, any horse born on or before 31 July was forced to celebrate its first birthday on August 1 - meaning it had its second birthday after living for little more than a year.

That meant the horse was at a significant disadvantage when it began its racing career (which starts at two years old for all thoroughbreds).

"The old wives' tale is that people who had a foal born before August 1 used to hide it in the back paddock," Mr Rogers said.

But new rules meant that foals born prematurely were no longer earmarked for a life less glamorous.

"It was a ridiculous rule," Mr Rogers said. "Now, as long as your foal is conceived after September 1 the previous year, it doesn't matter what date it is born the following season."

Most foals born this season would go under the hammer as yearlings (1-year-olds) at the Karaka sales in late January 2008.

"The record price in New Zealand for a yearling is $3.6 million."


BREEDING AGENDA

* Foaling begins around August 1 and goes to December.

* All horses turn a year older on August 1, no matter their actual birth date.

* The breeding season begins on September 1 and goes through to around Christmas.

* Mares cannot be served prior to September 1.

* The gestation period is 11 months, 11 days.

* Expecting mares are kept under 24-hour watch and at least three people attend each foaling.

Source: Waikato Stud's website