Thank you.

Between 96-06, a small increase in the number of runners, a decrease in the
number of races run, and a large increase in purses.

All of these would seem to be fairly healthy vital signs.

To make the statistics applicable to this particular thread, I would relish the
opportunity to see the same statistics for maiden races (number of maiden races
run, number of runners in these races, and average purse of a maiden race over
that 10 year period.)

I just think there is something out of balance if Aqueduct and Hollywood run 17
races on a weekday chosen at random, and 8 of these races are for maidens, and
that it might be part of the reason Racing has growth problems in terms of fan
base.