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Keeping the Pace: Hope and Change – Addressing the Challenges in Horse Racing
Originally published in the Paulick Report.
Paulick Report: Let’s jump right in. Given the time gap between finishing a book and its release, your book Death of a Racehorse concludes in spring 2024. What key developments in US horse racing over the past 15 months do you find most significant? And what updates made it into the paperback edition?
Lilith: Great question. Several important events occurred after we went to print. One was the controversy at the University of Kentucky lab, which led to Dr. Scott Stanley’s dismissal. He disputed the lab’s findings, and since the decision came just as we were finalizing edits, I couldn’t provide deeper coverage in the book. There’s mention of this incident, but no detailed follow-up.
Additionally, there’s been increased scrutiny around rule changes attempted in Louisiana.
Image Credit: Simon & Schuster
Paulick Report: With this extra time passing, we’ve seen developments involving HISA (Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority) and its enforcement arm, the Horse Racing Integrity & Welfare Unit. How do you assess the federal regulators’ performance over these past months? What are they doing well, and where are they falling short?
Lilith: The biggest takeaway for me about HISA’s debut is that it isn’t truly a national authority. Ongoing lawsuits mean different states operate under varied rules. While statistics in HISA-governed states show notable improvements in fatality rates, the same can’t be said for states with weaker oversight. The industry promotes those better numbers enthusiastically, but I doubt many outside racing clearly understand the split between HISA and non-HISA states.
The goal is to reassure fans, bettors, and regulators that the industry is doing everything to protect horses and secure its future. That goal remains unfulfilled, but this fragmentation isn’t HISA’s fault—it’s simply the reality of a divided industry.
Paulick Report: A well-known horse racing friend mentioned he found the book insightful but wished you’d covered more on “horse racing economics,” particularly the shift in revenue from bettors’ purses to casino subsidies. Costs have surged recently, but the wallet growth hasn’t kept pace in many regions. What insights did your research yield on the sport’s economic conditions, and what should fans watch closely?
Lilith: I focused mainly on drug use, injuries, and how these threaten racing’s sustainability, but it’s clear economic challenges loom large. The sport relies heavily on casino revenue to fund purses, which the New York Times controversially labeled as a “subsidy.” This dependence poses a major long-term risk. There’s no guarantee state legislatures will maintain these arrangements indefinitely. Florida’s recent “decoupling crisis” illustrated how precarious this support can be and how slow the industry is to adapt.
The sport faces two main paths: either develop a sustainable funding model independently or find innovative ways to compete with other sports betting markets—essentially “betting on itself” more successfully.
Paulick Report: One thing I appreciated was how the book exposed contradictions and conflicts of interest, especially regarding state racing officials. What did you uncover about the role of state regulators during your research? Were there any surprises? And how do you compare their work to federal regulators like HISA and HIWU?
Lilith: I should note my family connection—my mother chaired Virginia’s Racing Commission during Colonial Downs’ construction, so I’m naturally sympathetic to regulators. But I was shocked to learn some states allow racing officials to own horses, which is a huge conflict of interest.
The book reveals troubling collusions between regulators and the industry in many places, where officials are often former insiders with close ties to the very people they regulate. In some cases, this leads to lax enforcement and favoritism—like trainers getting “kid gloves” treatment for their connections.
At its best, the state system works through experienced insiders who understand animal welfare deeply. But inconsistent rule enforcement across states has undermined trust. HISA seeks to standardize labs and testing to close loopholes and ensure fairness nationwide, a crucial step forward.
Paulick Report: If you were named US Secretary of Horse Racing with significant power, what would be your top three priorities for the sport?
Lilith: First, I’d mandate that every state with live racing follows a uniform regulatory framework—not necessarily HISA’s, but true standardization.
Second, I’d bring the breeding and sales sectors under comprehensive regulation. How horses are bred and managed throughout their lives affects welfare and longevity, and currently, trainers often bear the burden for problems originating long before a horse’s racing days.
Finally, I’d drive a cultural shift to close the gap between how race fans see horses—as beloved animals—and how the industry treats them. This is the toughest task, requiring ongoing small changes to maintain the sport’s social license to operate.
Note: One significant improvement under federal regulation is requiring tracks to measure surface conditions daily at various points to monitor safety factors like moisture and cushion depth. While some maintenance crews find it tedious, it’s an essential job for horse safety.
Dan Ross of Thoroughbred Daily News highlighted challenges some smaller facilities face in meeting these standards due to staffing shortages or expertise gaps—things that simply cannot be excused.
It’s a tough job. New Jockey Club president Everett Dobson will deliver a key speech soon addressing HISA’s future, the sport’s contraction, betting, and social license. These are critical issues demanding coordinated attention.
An inspirational sidebar: Former athlete Cordon Harris found a second chance working in harness racing after incarceration, supported by a Canadian fractional ownership group. Stories like his illustrate how caring for and racing horses can positively transform lives.
Also, retraining retired Standardbred racehorses for new riding disciplines is gaining interest, showing the ongoing value of these horses beyond the track.
(Disclosure: The Jockey Club sponsors the Keep Pace column.)
This story first appeared on July 28, 2025, in the Paulick Report.
Fan Take: This update is crucial for horse racing fans because it highlights the sport’s ongoing struggles with regulation consistency, economic challenges, and animal welfare—core issues that will determine racing’s survival and public support. The path forward lies in stronger oversight, industry transparency, and cultural change to build trust and ensure a sustainable future for both horses and the sport.
