$100 Million Doesn’t Go as Far as It Used to

Jockey Eddie Delahoussaye’s $100 million in purse money won is impressive, and exemplifies how much the purse money for horse racing has increased. Back in 1977, it took Steve Cauthen 487 victories to win $6.1 million in purse money--a record at the time. Recently, Gary Stevens, the nation’s leading money winner, passed $6.1 million with about 125 wins.

Someone said, “Figures lie and liars figure,” but some simple math tells the story. Cauthen averaged about $12,500 for each of his 487 victories in 1977, and Stevens has averaged about $48,000 for his victories in 1991. So, by 1991 purse money, Cauthen would have won more than $23 million, and by 1977 purse money, Stevens would have won about $1.8 million so far in 1991.

Maybe that’s why they gave Cauthen three Eclipse Awards for his 1977 performance.

DON LOVE

Palm Springs