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3. The main concen.. is that you (and us as a whole for that matter) a fan, with no financial intrest at stake are telling people not to make financial decisions that would change the rest of their lives.

That's not what I want. I want it to be more difficult to retire a Gr I winner who's done nothing else. I'm thinking Bandini, Friends Lake, High Fly, and all the other horses who have the ability to go to the shed and put on their catelogue page Gr I winner.

I didn't want to put a specific idea in the letter because I'm not connected with the industry as you say. However, how wouldn't this work:

AGSC scraps I, II, III's and just gives a number to each race. BC is worth 1000, KD, 750, Haskell 300, Norfolk 100, Flower Bowl 420, whatever they come up with (they currently do this, but then regroup all the races into the 3 we see). Then they say winner gets 100%, 2nd gets 60%, 3rd gets 40%, also ran gets 15%, whatever. Now horses can still retire off the backs of prestigious wins like the classics, however buyers might start to look for a Gr I winner who scored in the top 10 of his group, or a Gr I winner with points across the different divisions. The Buyers want a horse who compiles wins not just a one trick pony.

On top of that standings draw in the casual viewer (W&YI proves that casual fans just need a story to follow) who may or may start wagering either way their eyes are worth money.

Racing has a terrible image that is untrue (single, loners with low income and no college education ntra 2004? report) that keeps advertisers away, plus no one likes to sponsor gambling (Hell Vegas would rather advertise hookers and loose morals than the slots "what happens in vegas stays in vegas). However, the truth is the exact opposite horse fans are family, uppermiddle class, who have education, if all of sudden the sport focused on the sport (rather than the gambling) advertisers would follow. Then you'd be able to have your $5million grade I's.

As it currently stands I bet most tracks could lower their purses and you'd still ahve the same type field show up. These trainers and owners aren't chasing paychecks, they are chasing prestige, and my site is about redifining the paradigm of prestige in this sport.

Finally, what's the big deal about signing it. Gary West did, and left a great comment (that I disagree with totally), but that's the point, just be heard!