your missing the point fellas and so i assume you dont breed/race horses
sure there was a few high profile stakes races back in the day that went for more, but how many horses can win those, correct 1, i think one year there was 80 horses entered in the woodrow, there was NO SIRES STAKES TO SPEAK OF, certainly not at todays level
now the average 3 yr old can earn top dollar by doing well in the sires stakes and doing well in some of the grand circuit or other major races
there is far more money available today than there was back in those days
look at how many sires stakes races go for good money with 5, 6 horses in them