1. INTRODUCTION
2. 2008 2yo SEASON
3. 2007 2yo SEASON
4. 2006 2yo SEASON
5. 2005 2yo SEASON
6. 2004 SALES RATINGS (Archived)
7. TRAINERS 2002-2005
8. SIRES 2002-2004
9. 2yo RACING 2002-2006
10. PADDOCK REVIEW
11. ARTICLES & DISCUSSION
12. PICTURE ARCHIVE

British 2yo Racing (B2yoR) is dedicated to following 2yo racing in England, Scotland and Wales during the turf season (March to November).

The site contains a wide variety of information about horses, trainers, sires, etc. specifically targeted at 2yo racing. B2yoR aims to make this information better than existing sources and, as importantly, suggest how the information should be interpreted and used. For example the pedigree information available for each 2yo is targeted at being better than, for comparison, the Racing Post summaries. B2yoR aims to provide information about all siblings for each runner as well as performance marks and sales prices. This is only one step forward though - how should you interpret and use this pedigree information? What are the limits of usefulness of the information? Follow B2yoR through the 2007 2yo season to learn more.

The site also contains more general information about racing and its associated jargon. The site includes a section for publishing general articles about racing. If you have an article that you would like to publish then please send it to the B2yoR contact point and if the article is suitable it will be included on the site. There is also a  Glossary which will explain commonly used acronyms and standard terms that B2yoR uses as well as more general racing jargon. Again, suggestions are welcomed for items to go into the Glossary page.

However, probably the main goal of B2yoR is to promote and extend the use of Paddock Review and 'Horse Standardisation'. 2yo racing necessarily involves analysing many races where the runners are making their debuts or have had few runs. Given that much of the analysis of racing is done through studying previous form, and there's little or no form available, 2yo racing provokes a number of different approaches. For example:-

• Over-reliance on racecourse 'whispers' and 'stable information'. The information is probably of dubious provenance and is almost certainly of little use because it almost never takes into account the quality of the opposition.
• 'Race Standardisation'. Assuming that certain types of races at certain courses will always attract runners of the same ability, year in and year out. This 'model' is then used to rate races, and to assess what level of performance will be needed to win a race regardless of the actual abilities of the group of 2yos assembled in the current season. The use of this method leads to many examples of 2yo races and performances being over-rated and occasionally under-rated. Correcting the vagaries of 'Race Standardisation' is probably the most important profitable area for the use of Paddock Review and 'Horse Standardisation'.
• Over-reliance on individual, lovingly polished, sets of statistics to try to identify a winner. The use of these types of statistics can be useful but need to be incorporated into a wider understanding of the race to be analysed. Flexibility is also needed to interpret statistics because the primary factor in assessing whether a trainer or sire will have a good year is the quality of their representatives. For example, trainer's strings vary in quality from year to year and they may change their methods to try to make a better impression. Also, first season sires may have a good record with their initial runners which were produced when they were 'fashionable'. They will usually then have two less successful seasons with less runners while the market waits to assess their yearlings/runners.
• 'Learned Helplessness'. Listening to those that say that analysing 2yo races is impossible so ignore it and go back to another run through the form of the older sprint handicap where everything is running against each other for the umpteenth time. On the basis that that is easier than 2yo races....

The paddock review information brings in a 'Horse Standardisation' approach where current and future performance can be assessed from the physical types that ran in the race. The review information for a horse should include an overall rating which relates to the Official Rating scale and a full description of its physical type and athleticism. This subject is covered in more detail in the 'Paddock Review' section on this site.

The use of paddock review information for 2yo races needs to be used more extensively and needs to be of much greater depth. Current generally available 'Paddock Review' information is usually of moderate quality. B2yoR despairs of most efforts at 'paddock review' on the dedicated racing channels for example. With some honourable exceptions the paddock analysis in the media tends to show similar problems:-

• Use of unquantified, vague language. 'Nice Type', for instance, is of no use since it is an insipid personal opinion with no supporting evidence. It can also be interpreted in a wide range of ways in retrospect.
• Almost obsessional emphasis on minor factors which will probably have no bearing on a race between a mixed ability group of 2yos in a maiden. At the forefront of this is the obsession with horse's coats. This is an indicator of 'well-being' and not fundamental ability and it is information about the latter that is required with unraced and lightly raced 2yos. The cynical view might be that paddock review experts spend time highlighting coats, sweating, 'coltishness', etc. because they've got to say something.
• Use of much too limited descriptions of physical types. For example "Leggy individual", "Stocky type" and "Unfurnished" are at least trying to identify the right type of information. But the information is again not quantified and the implications are not spelt out.
• Paddock analysis which is actually form analysis. Typical examples tend to progress as "He's a nice type, and his coat looks really shiny. He showed good form when he finished second to Insipid Remarks at Leicester ........".
• Paddock analysis which are actually pedigree remarks. Most often in the peculiar form of "He's an ok type, his coat's a bit dry, but he's by the sire Undoubted Waffle so he'll really love to hear his hooves rattle/get his toe in [Delete as applicable] today...."

• Side on picture of each 2yo.
• Description of physical type in a well known standard form, including simple measure of athleticism.
• Estimation of fitness on a well known scale.
• Numerical Rating of each 2yo as a physical specimen relating to the best Official Rating that the 2yo is likely to achieve (in a truly run race, not the inflated figures that occur by finishing close up in slowly run black-type races because of race standardisation).
• Summary of the horses likely aptitude and development through the season.

B2yoR will produce the information listed above for races in 2006 to prove what can be achieved.  Let us hope we can raise the overall level of paddock review generally available through the season.

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• Racing Previews - Final Format not set by early March 2008.
• 2yo Summaries individual pages which contain the Pedigree information & Sales price, Run Details & Rating along with general notes for all 2yos declared in 2008. The pages also contain links to the horse's 2008 Season trainer and sire pages. Where Pictures of the horse and/or its siblings are available these are also linked from the page. The Run Details lines also provide links to the Results page for the races that the 2yo participated in.
• The 2008 Trainers section holds full details of all individual runs by the trainer's 2yos in 2008 in date order. A separate table highlights each of the debut performances by the stable's 2yos with links to the individual "2yo Summaries". This enables the type and quality of the 2yos that a trainer has to be assessed. Includes an 'Update Strip' which will show how the stable is performing in 2008 compared to 2007 (updated at regular intervals through the season).
• The 2008 Sires section holds full details of all individual runs by the sire's 2yos in 2008 in date order. A separate table highlights each of the debut performances by the stallion's 2yos with links to the individual "2yo Summaries". This enables the type and quality of the 2yos that a sire had to be assessed.
• The Results section contains cut-down results pages for all of the 2yo races during the 2008 season.
• The Season Pictures section contains pictures of 2008 2yo runners as they become available

• Race Note Abbreviations - describes the information provided in the "Run Notes" part of the Run Detail lines for each outing by a 2yo.
• Pedigree Layout Notes - covers the meaning of the summaries provided for a 2yo's dam and siblings in their "2yo Summary" page.
• Sire & Trainer Updates - summary of the data that will be presented in the 'Update' table on each sire and trainer page in the 2007 season.
• Race Result Notes - description of the information presented as part of the cut-down results format for the 2007 season.

• Racing Previews - See the Notes to the change in format in 2007.
• 2yo Summaries individual pages which contain the Pedigree information & Sales price, Run Details & Rating along with general notes for all 2yos declared in 2007. The pages also contain links to the horse's 2007 Season trainer and sire pages. Where Pictures of the horse and/or its siblings are available these are also linked from the page. The Run Details lines also provide links to the Results page for the races that the 2yo participated in.
• The 2007 Trainers section holds full details of all individual runs by the trainer's 2yos in 2007 in date order. A separate table highlights each of the debut performances by the stable's 2yos with links to the individual "2yo Summaries". This enables the type and quality of the 2yos that a trainer has to be assessed. Includes an 'Update Strip' which will show how the stable is performing in 2007 compared to 2006 (updated at regular intervals through the season).
• The 2007 Sires section holds full details of all individual runs by the sire's 2yos in 2007 in date order. A separate table highlights each of the debut performances by the stallion's 2yos with links to the individual "2yo Summaries". This enables the type and quality of the 2yos that a sire had to be assessed.
• The Results section will contain cut-down results pages for all of the 2yo races during the 2007 season.
• The Season Pictures section will contain pictures of 2007 2yo runners as they become available

• Pedigree Layout Notes - covers the meaning of the summaries provided for a 2yo's dam and siblings in their "2yo Summary" page.
• Sire & Trainer Updates - summary of the data that will be presented in the 'Update' table on each sire and trainer page in the 2007 season.
• Race Result Notes - description of the information presented as part of the cut-down results format for the 2007 season.

Access to all information resources relating to 2yo racing during the 2006 season. The sub-sections are :-

• Race Profiles contains a visual representation of the expected level of performance of each of the runners in a race along with a summary of the race shape and quality. Profiles are produced for as many races as time permits.
• 2yo Summaries contain the Pedigree information & Sales price, Run Details & Rating along with general notes for all 2yos declared in 2006. The pages also contain links to the horse's 2006 Season trainer and sire pages. Where Pictures of the horse and/or its siblings are available these are also linked from the page.
• The 2006 Trainers section holds full details of all individual runs by the trainer's 2yos in 2006 in date order. A separate table highlights each of the debut performances by the stable's 2yos with links to the individual "2yo Summaries". This enables the type and quality of the 2yos that a trainer has to be assessed. It is planned to implement two improvements in 2006. Firstly, a  'Dashboard' which will enable a trainer to be categorised by his strategy with 2yos and an 'Update Strip' which will show how the stable is performing in 2006 compared to 2004-5 (updated at regular intervals through the season).
• The 2006 Sires section holds full details of all individual runs by the sire's 2yos in 2006 in date order. A separate table highlights each of the debut performances by the stallion's 2yos with links to the individual "2yo Summaries". This enables the type and quality of the 2yos that a sire had to be assessed.
• The Results section will contain cut-down results pages for all of the 2yo races during the 2006 season. In particular the presentation is designed to try to show how a well crafted set of Run Style and Race Notes for each participant can characterise a race.
• The Season Pictures section will contain pictures of 2006 2yo runners as they become available

• Race Note Abbreviations - describes the information provided in the "Run Notes" part of the Run Detail lines for each outing by a 2yo.
• Pedigree Layout Notes - covers the meaning of the summaries provided for a 2yo's dam and siblings in their "2yo Summary" page.
• Paddock/Sales Ratings - where available the "2yo Summary" and race reports will include Sales and/or Paddock Review ratings. These are figures allocated either at the sales or after on-course paddock review (as 2yos) which rate the 2yo as a physical specimen. The meaning of the rating ranges is explained.
• Trainer Dashboard - description of the information held in the 'Dashboard' found in the 2006 trainer pages.
• Sire & Trainer Updates - summary of the data that will be presented in the 'Update' table on each sire and trainer page in the 2006 season.
• Race Result Notes - description of the information presented as part of the cut-down results format for the 2006 season.

Access to all information resources relating to 2yo racing 2005 season. The sub-sections are :-

• Race Profiles contains pre-race profiles of the expected level of performance of each of the runners and of the race as a whole. These were produced between March and June in 2005.
• 2yo Summaries contain the Pedigree information & Sales price, Run Details & Rating along with general notes for all 2yos declared in 2005. The pages also contain links to the horse's trainer and sire pages. Where Pictures of the horse and/or its siblings are available these are also linked from the page.
• The 2005 Trainers section holds full details of all individual runs by the trainer's 2yos in 2005 in date order. A separate table highlights each of the debut performances by the stable's 2yos with links to the individual "2yo Summaries". This enables the type and quality of the 2yos that a trainer had to be assessed.
• The 2005 Sires section holds full details of all individual runs by the sire's 2yos in 2005 in date order. A separate table highlights each of the debut performances by the stallion's 2yos with links to the individual "2yo Summaries". This enables the type and quality of the 2yos that a sire had to be assessed.

After the close of the 2005 season on November 6th the section also includes lnks to summary statistics tables for all trainers and sires. The information covers total runners, winners, wins, runs, winning strike rate, winners to runners and wins per winner. These are presented as a set of tables ordered by each of the listed attributes as well as alphbetically by trainer/sire name.

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B2yoR attends a number of the UK's yearling sales and uses 'Paddock Review' methods to assess a range of yearlings as physical specimens and for their likely effectiveness as 2yo racehorses.

This section contains information about a range of yearlings which were sold at the Tattersalls October (TO1 and TO2), Tattersalls December (TDC), Doncaster St Leger (DSL) and Doncaster October (DOC) sales in 2004. Around 60% of these yearlings will run in Britain as 2yos in 2005 and account for more than 30% of the 2yo runners.

The sales ratings and pedigree information provided for each yearling can be used to:

• assess runners before their debut runs
• assess the strength of a race containing mainly unraced or lightly raced 2yos.

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The sections contains statistical summaries for the 2yo runners (i.e. 3yo+ runners are excluded) of around 524 trainers that had 2yo runners in at least one of the seasons 2003 to 2007. For some major trainers the information provided includes the trainer's statistics for seasons between 1996 and 2002.

The summary pages for each trainer initially covers the 'usual' statistics such as number of 2yo runners/runs, number of winners/wins, wins to runs by month and so forth. The summaries then cover a range of information about trainer's methods which are not generally available. These cover :-

• STABLE WINS TO RUNS BY DISTANCE (2002 - 2007)
• STABLE WINS TO RUNS BY MONTH (2001 - 2007)
• STABLE WINS TO RUNS BY RUN NUMBER (2002 - 2007)
• STABLE WINS TO RUNS BY DISTANCE (2002 - 2007)

• DEBUT RUNS GROUPED BY FINISHING POSITION (2003 - 2007)
• DEBUT WINS-RUNS BY STARTING PRICE GROUP (2003 - 2007)
• DEBUT WINS-RUNS BY RACE TYPE (2005-7)
• DEBUT WINS-RUNS BY RACE CLASS (2005-7)
• DEBUT WINS-RUNS BY RACE DISTANCE (2003 - 2007)
• DAYS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND RUNS GROUPED BY FINISHING POSITION (2003 - 2007)

For trainers with 2yo runners in 2005-7 a new statistic is available :-

• WINNERS TO NON-WINNERS BY MONTH OF DEBUT (2003 - 2007)

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The sections contains statistical summaries for the 2yo runners (i.e. 3yo+ runners are excluded) of around 650 sires that had 2yo runners in seasons 2003 to 2006. For some important sires the information provided includes statistics for seasons between 1999 and 2002.

The summary pages for each sire initially covers the 'usual' statistics such as number of 2yo runners/runs, number of winners/wins, wins to runs by month and so forth. The summaries then cover a range of information about sires methods which are not generally available. These cover :-

• SIRE WINS TO RUNS BY DISTANCE (2002 - 2007)
• SIRE WINS TO RUNS BY MONTH (2001 - 2007)
• SIRE WINS TO RUNS BY RUN NUMBER (2002 - 2007)
• SIRE WINS TO RUNS BY DISTANCE (2002 - 2007)

• DEBUT RUNS GROUPED BY FINISHING POSITION (2003 - 2007)
• DEBUT WINS-RUNS BY STARTING PRICE GROUP (2003 - 2007)
• DEBUT WINS-RUNS BY RACE TYPE (2005-7)
• DEBUT WINS-RUNS BY RACE CLASS (2005-7)
• DEBUT WINS-RUNS BY RACE DISTANCE (2003 - 2007)
• DAYS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND RUNS GROUPED BY FINISHING POSITION (2003 - 2007)

• WINNERS TO NON-WINNERS BY MONTH OF DEBUT (2003 - 2007)

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This section provides information summaries for the 2yo season for the years 2002 to 2006. The 2yo season covers all 2yo races in Britain during the flat turf season, including 2yo races on the all-weather during the turf season.

The information is useful for anyone interested in 2yo racing and gaining a general  understanding of the 'size and shape' of the 2yo season and what factors influence it.

The data covers the following areas - 2yo Horses; Races; Winners; Starting Prices; General Sires & Dams; Trainer Population & Methods.

The information is split by a range of interesting questions about 2yo racing which it should help to explain. This 'question' format helps to introduce some of the factors that someone should be thinking about when trying to analyse 2yo racing in general and particular 2yo races.

Examples of the questions posed :-

• How many 2yo horses run during the season?
• What percentage of those horses win a race? More than one race?
• What percentage of horses win first time out?
• Do fillies win their share of races compared to the males?
• Does horse colour make any difference to their chances of winning at 2yo?
• What standard of performance is needed to win the average maiden at each racecourse?
• What is the percentage of 70+ rated winning performances?
• Which trainers use 'headgear' most often on their horses? How does it affect winning strike rate?
• How has the number of races on All-Weather surfaces changed?

Paddock Review describes the activity of going to see the 2yos in the pre-parade and paddock and assessing their abilities and aptitudes using a simple system. The review will produce a rating of each 2yo as a physical specimen, a full description of physical type and an outline of its prospects for its 2yo career.

This section contains an overview of the the type of Paddock Reviewing B2yoR believes is appropriate for 2yo races. It covers the overall approach and what areas to look for and what to ignore. The section encourages the use of paddock review and explains why this should not be seen as a 'black art' and the preserve of 'horsey' people who are in-the-know.

The section includes a number of 'Virtual Paddocks' with picture examples of actual sets of 2yos for you to try to split into known types. The answers to these Virtual Paddocks can be obtained by sending an e-mail to the B2yoR contact point.

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Contains all of the site documents related to thoroughbreds and racing, especially 2yo racing. The section includes the publishing dates for titled future documents.

What's the difference between an article and a discussion document? Articles are intended as explanatory and informational documents for a general audience. Discussion documents will include more personal opinion and can express any worthwhile view so long as it is backed up by some knowledge and thought.

Anyone can submit a article or discussion to this website for inclusion if suitable. Please send any contribution to Contact Info. Note that the author retains the copyright of any article published on the B2yoR website. From 2007 a payment of £25 (British Sterling) will be made for suitable articles which are accepted for publishing on the site. Where a payment is made articles will be subject to editorial review and requests for changes before acceptance.

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Resource containing pictures of 2yo horses from the 2002 season onwards. The pictures are of varying quality but are not intended to be used for professional or commercial purposes. They are made available here for people interested in 2yo racing and in thoroughbred conformation and types.

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