Do I have to pass 85 variables to function?

[Milfredo]

Have a problem with a function. I am reading from a data frame and when the condition is met, I am putting data into a two dimensional array. There are about 85 data points. Question is, must I pass the data points to the function or is there an easier way to accomplish this.

#LOAD HORSE DATA INTO 2 DIMENSION ARRAY FOR DATA PROCESSING
def load_horse_data():

	horse_array[horse_count][0] = race_number
	horse_array[horse_count][1] = todays_purse



#READ FILE AND PULL OUT HORSES AND HORSE INFO FOR SELECTED RACE AND TRACK
		for i in range(0,len(xx)):
			if int(xx[hcount][1])== int(race_number):			 
				horses_name.insert(hcount, xx[hcount][18])
				horse_saddle.insert(hcount, xx[hcount][97])	
				load_horse_data()
				horse_count +=1				
			hcount+=1	  

race number I have as a global in bottom function just not showing it. So no problem in upper function Nputting race number in the array. But todays_purse throws an error as not defined. Bow I have 85 data points that will be put in array just as I am with the two I have listed so far. Do I have to pass all 85 to the function before I can put them in the array?

Thanks