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The National Steeplechase Association released its yearend statistics for 2007, with total purses hitting a record $5,357,645, up 10.5 percent from last season. The average race purse of $26,655 also set a record, up $4,112 per race from 2006.
“This was a very successful year,” said Bill Gallo, NSA director of racing. “Our typical barometer is total purses, and they were at an all-tune high. We hope to continue that trend in 2008 and reward our horseman. There’s a strong feeling by the NSA to increase purses again, so we are looking forward to 2008.”
Though the number of NSA owners, trainers, riders and horses all dipped in 2007, Gallo mentioned the framework of a plan that would boost purses, and, therefore, bring in new connections to the sport.
“It’s getting more expensive to train and care for horses, so the purses must increase accordingly” Gallo said. “We are working very hard at getting a greater influx of purses and a five-year plan would be to have purses over $10 million. This would impact the game on many different levels, increase participation and interest, and continue the upward trend of purse increases that stagnated a bit from 1990-2000.”
Though the 2007 racing cal
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