Definition

1. Noun:
   • A racehorse that is three years old: Specifically refers to a horse that is three years of age and is used for racing. This term is most commonly used in the context of thoroughbred horse racing, where age is a critical classification for competitions.

Usage

• The term "three-year-old horse" is used as a countable noun. It specifically denotes the age and purpose (racing) of the horse. It is often used in sports journalism, breeding, and racing discussions.
• Example: "The Kentucky Derby is restricted to three-year-old horses."
• Example: "As a three-year-old horse, she showed incredible speed and stamina."

Advanced Usage

• In thoroughbred racing, a "three-year-old horse" is often simply called a "three-year-old." The "horse" part is frequently implied in context.
  • Example: "This year's classic races feature a strong crop of three-year-olds."
• The plural form is "three-year-old horses."

Variants and Related Words

• Three-year-old (noun): The shortened form commonly used in racing parlance.
  • Example: "He is the leading sire of three-year-olds."
• Yearling: A horse that is one year old.
• Two-year-old horse: A racehorse that is two years old.
• Colt: A young male horse, typically under four or five years old.
• Filly: A young female horse, typically under four or five years old.

Synonyms

• Three-year-old (racing): The most direct synonym in the context of horse racing.
• Sophomore (in some racing contexts): Occasionally used in American racing to refer to a three-year-old horse in its second season of racing.

Notes

• The term is a compound noun formed by hyphenating the age descriptor ("three-year-old") with the noun "horse." It functions as a single lexical unit.
• It is important to distinguish this specific racing term from a general description of any horse's age (e.g., "a horse that is three years old"). The term "three-year-old horse" in this definition carries the specific connotation of being a racehorse.

Noun

1. a racehorse that is three years old