—Albatross was generally considered a relatively small, compact horse when he was young, especially compared with some of the larger modern Standardbreds.
I would be cautious about giving an exact height at ages 2 and 3, because reliable records of his height at those ages are hard to find.
What is clear is that he was not a physically imposing, huge horse early in his career. He was known more for his tremendous power, balance, speed, and athleticism than for sheer size. He won 14 of 17 starts at two and then an extraordinary 25 of 28 at three, so his performance clearly exceeded what his physical size might have suggested.
Like many Standardbreds, he also filled out and became more substantial with age. The adult Albatross was a strong, muscular horse, but photographs from his racing years can make him look somewhat smaller and more compact than many later stallions.