You could always incorporate stat bars with a different element to the game.

For example,

You run a horse in a C4 maiden first time out.

He gets beaten 5 lengths by a horse, on the bridle.

You want this horse.

You have a look at the stat bars for this horse, and you can tell he's potentially an absolute machine! A bit like Champ Man with players I suppose.

You bid for the horse.

The trainer/owner accepts or rejects your offer.

You either add the horse to your stables, or he stays with his current trainer/owner.

Doesn't take any of the realism out of the game, in fact IMO adds more to it.

But the stat bars are a crucial influence on your decision to bid on the horse.

Just a thought.

i would like to see more attributes for instance say have 10 - 20 different attributes each with rating from 0 - 20

E.G very basic on the spot examples
current natural god given abbilityand talent
potential abillity
condition
fitness
starting stalls
pre race mood(tempremant)
starting (after stalls)
early race pace
late race pace
acceleration
cruising speed
in race mood(tempremant)
staying power
finishing
current jumping abillity
pottential jumping abbilty
sprinting
mile+
middledistance
stayer
g1 pottential
classic potential

i no some of these are poor but just giving a general idea how the game could progress on the stats front i think for 2yo or horses you dont own you could mask half the ratings until you buy or with 2yo util they race for the first time

you could have horses that never reach there pottential or even have an odd few that do better than there pottential says

mark you could please both sets of people ie the ones who want more stats can select that in pre game menu or for those that hate stats they can select hiding stats or for those who just want fitness and condition make that an option easier said then done but as you say s.o. has had the same stats system since v1 and it need revamping in the future the game is fantastic as it is but we seem to always want more human nature i guess i also agree with what someone else said forgive me i have forgotten your name but he mentioned about been able to bid on horses i said this after so2 was released i no you hate the idea mark but if people want it is there not a place to compremise and make it an option in pre game menu i think the more options each palyer has the beter i no this makes it hard for the league (which i have given up on) you could make it that bought game horse are not allowed in lge and can not be exported im not asking for much eh ha ha

I would rather you had stats bars for the sire and dam in place of the horses stats bars, That way you would have an idea of the horses potential, this would be good for 2 and 3yo's so you would have to find the horses best distance etc.