Foal
A foal is a thoroughbred in its first year of life — it becomes a 'weanling' once separated from its dam and a 'yearling' the following January 1.
Every thoroughbred is registered with the year it was foaled and shares an official January 1 birthday for age purposes — so a 'foal of 2025' turns one on January 1, 2026, whatever its actual birth date. Foaling season runs roughly January through May.
Examples
- arrow_rightThe mare's 2025 foal is a colt by a Grade 1 winner.
- arrow_rightAn early foal has a few months' physical head start on a late one in the same crop.