Lisa Lazarus

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA)'s launch of the HISA Equine Recovery Foundation (HERF), an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing critical assistance for Thoroughbred racehorses sustaining a career-ending injury during racing, is set to begin operations in early 2026, according to an organization release on Wednesday.   HERF's mission: Support racehorses—with injuries sustained during races that historically have a positive prognosis for recovery—by ensuring immediate access to quality veterinary treatment and rehabilitation in order to facilitate a successful aftercare placement. Enhance access to diagnostic imaging services and tools...

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) released its Third Quarter Metrics Report for 2025 and the racing-related equine fatality rate was 1.02 fatalities per 1,000 starts, which translates to 99.90% of Thoroughbred racehorse starts occurred without a fatality within 72 hours of racing due to race-related injuries, according to a release from the regulator on Friday morning. The report provides detailed data on key safety metrics under HISA's Racetrack Safety Program, including racing-related and training-related equine fatalities, riding crop rule violations and scratches. Over the past 24 months, the...

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) has named the members of its newly-established Medical Advisory Committee, a group of leading medical professionals with a broad range of specialties from across the United States who will provide expert guidance on matters related to jockey health, safety and well-being, a press release from the regulator said on Thursday. The committee will advise HISA's executive team and standing committees by offering recommendations on best practices for jockey safety, reviewing proposed rules and providing insight on medical protocols involving jockey care, injury prevention,...

Retired jockey Trevor McCarthy is joining the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) as a jockeys' wellness consultant, a newly created position that is dedicated to advancing the health, safety and overall well-being of riders. "Trevor's first-hand understanding of life in the saddle and his genuine commitment to jockey well-being make him an invaluable addition to our team," said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. "His insight and experience will strengthen our ongoing efforts, alongside Jockeys' Guild, to develop programs that support the overall health and safety of riders across the country."...

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and Onrise have partnered to provide nutritional coaching to the suite of confidential wellness services available to licensed jockeys at HISA racetracks through the Onrise platform, HISA announced Tuesday. Beginning this week, riders can access personalized nutrition support in both English and Spanish through the same Onrise telehealth system currently used for mental health and peer support services. "Introducing access to nutrition support is an exciting enhancement in HISA's partnership with Onrise," said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. "This addition empowers jockeys to better understand...

One day after the Jockeys' Guild issued a statement that excoriated the Horse Racing Safety and Integrity Authority for suspending Paco Lopez for six months, HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus issued a statement defending the Authority's actions. In a January 17 order signed by both HISA and Lopez's representatives, the parties agreed that "this two-year suspension is probated contingent upon Lopez not committing another violation of HISA Rules that involves conduct similar to the conduct at issue in the Notice within two years of the date of this Order. If Lopez...

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act's proposed 2026 budget has been out for its mandatory public comment period and is now before the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The topline comes out to just over $78.4 million. If credits to the industry are fully applied, then the cost to the industry is around $60.4 million. HISA has already responded to nine public comments posted to the federal register. Its response, however, doesn't include those subsequently submitted by Churchill Downs Incorporated's (CDI) CEO, Bill Carstanjen. CDI is hardly an impartial voice in...

Paco Lopez and his attorney Drew Mollica have been informed by the Horse Racing Safety and Integrity Authority that they will not grant Paco Lopez a stay of his six-month suspension for what HISA called a violation of the terms of his agreement stemming from a Dec. 4 incident involving the whip. "We are in the process of evaluating all legal remedies including but not limited to an emergency application to a court of competent jurisdiction to seek not only injunctive relief, but sanctions for this unilateral unprecedented decision to...

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and Jockeys' Guild, in partnership with the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, co-hosted a mental health roundtable on Tuesday, Sept. 16, in the U.S. Capitol. The event brought together jockeys and professional athletes from women's soccer and football to share their personal experiences and highlight both the common and unique mental health challenges they face. "We are committed to keeping the dialogue going on mental health challenges for professional jockeys," said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. "The more we talk about it, the more jockeys...

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's 2025 Second Quarter Metrics Report was released Monday, showing a slight increase in racing-related fatalities over the same period last year, according to the organization Monday. The report offers a detailed analysis of key performance indicators tied to the safety and integrity of Thoroughbred racing in the United States. Between Apr. 1 and June 30, racetracks operating under HISA's rules reported 1.24 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts, up from 0.76 fatalities per 1,000 starts reported during the same period last year. Providing a...

After a couple of lost training days last week because of escalating safety concerns with the dirt surface, racing resumed Monday at Thistledown, but another tragedy was not far behind. In the first race of the day, the 5-year-old mare Tayyara (Khozan) broke down and had to be euthanized. Thistledown canceled the remainder of the eight-race card. According to a Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority (HISA) spokesperson, HISA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Lazarus asked Thistledown to cancel after the first race and they agreed to do so. She also asked...

Without much notice or attention--the way he prefers it--lifelong racetracker John Pimental is easing back into a sense of shedrow normalcy as spring morphs into summer at Monmouth Park. "It feels good to be back to working--making a living again," Pimental told TDN one recent afternoon before feeding time. The 70-year-old trainer has five Thoroughbreds bedded down in the same barn his former outfit of eight occupied on the morning of July 28, 2023, when agents for the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) descended upon the modest racing stable...