BH Daily Letters to the Editor, July 3 Issue

HISA's Lazarus Reflects on Supreme Court Decision As summer racing hits its stride, we have much to reflect on, and much more to look ahead to. The Supreme Court's recent decision to send the legal challenges to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act back to the United States Courts of Appeals leaves the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act undisturbed and HISA fully operational. We are delighted to have the Supreme Court's blessing to continue to oversee the safety and integrity of Thoroughbred racing for the foreseeable future and look forward to bringing new and improved services to the industry over the coming months. That clarity allows us to continue our work without disruption and to focus on what matters most—protecting our human and equine athletes. Across the country this summer, our team will continue to work in close coordination with racetracks, veterinarians and regulators to uphold the highest standards of safety and integrity—through meticulous planning, real-time data collection, and the testing and enforcement efforts of the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit. You will continue to see development and improvement in our information collection efforts as well as an increase in data and information that we share with the industry. Navigating ongoing legal challenges over a more protracted time frame than expected unfortunately means that the legal expenses that HISA, and in turn, the industry, are required to bear will continue to be meaningful. However, we will remain responsible stewards of industry resources and will persist in communicating transparently with you about that, as we did in our April 11 Town Hall: Understanding HISA's Financial Framework from Budgeting to Spending to Impact. As we discussed during that town hall, HISA operates without federal funding or other public funding, but, as our programs mature, we're seeing real progress in optimizing economies of scale while maintaining high standards to more effectively manage costs. Moreover, we're working with state leaders across the country to pursue sustainable funding models that ease the burden on tracks and horsemen, and we're determined to ensure that cost is never the reason a safe, cooperative racetrack can't continue to operate. I close this letter to you by reflecting on the recent heartbreaking losses of two titans of our industry, Christophe Clement and D. Wayne Lukas. I met Christophe early in my tenure as CEO and he was always incredibly supportive and thoughtful about HISA's operations and goals. I was fortunate to be able to benefit from his insights and advice and I will never forget how much the success of this industry meant to him. Wayne was a towering figure in our sport, who had a direct impact on so many of us. He never failed to make me laugh when I saw him nor did he hold back on his candid and useful feedback. Standing beside him and listening to his reflections, you could not help but feel you were in the company of greatness. His work ethic set of the standard for the kind of unyielding dedication that is required to achieve immortality in this sport. His voice and presence will be deeply missed. Thankfully, there is much to remember him by. Yours in racing, Lisa Lazarus Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority CEO