One might ponder the unexpected connection between falling in love and ensuring the safety of racehorses at the track while safeguarding them from abusive medications. It turns out that what they share is the burden of wasteful federal spending. The wait for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) to disclose its tax form detailing last year's expenditures was a long one. The 2022 form was made public the following summer, and for the 2023 report, we had to patiently await its release until the brink of winter, constantly refreshing the HISA website in anticipation.

CEO's Profit Turnaround and Legal Implications

This week, we finally discovered that despite claiming financial constraints, the non-profit HISA actually turned a $4.6 million profit last year. This was a significant shift from the $3.3 million deficit shown on the previous year's form 990. Lawyers representing Churchill Downs Inc. and the New York Racing Association must have been elated when this document finally emerged. It provided them with the evidence they needed to counter HISA's response to the federal case filed by these two racetrack giants regarding the calculation and alleged inflation of their annual bills.Lisa Lazarus, the HISA CEO, was paid $586,547 last year along with an additional $13,200 in added value. When combined, her total earnings placed her in a similar financial bracket as a married couple earning $619,976 - Joseph and Jill Biden. This is not a personal attack on Lazarus or an endorsement of the Bidens; rather, it raises questions about the allocation of funds in the name of equines.

Medication Regulations and Staff Expenses

It is reasonable for HISA to suggest that its surplus from last year could be offset by increased expenses this year. The 2023 ledger was influenced by the fact that medication regulations and the associated enforcement expenses were not in effect for the first 4 1/2 months. However, at present, it is difficult to identify a sympathetic figure in this financial landscape.The same tax form also revealed a staff of 23 (not all named) and a volunteer force of 22. The salaries of eight individuals were disclosed and listed by the Internal Revenue Service as "compensation of officers, directors, trustees, key employees, highest compensated employees, and independent contractors." Even if one concedes that the HISA CEO deserves around $600,000 per year, it is puzzling why former Equibase boss Hank Zeitlin still earns $305,683. He served as the temporary CEO for eight months before becoming a consultant in 2023.Various department heads at HISA earn between $151,673 and $262,488 per year, and the top bean counter, Jim Gates, receives $344,340. When sharing this information with current and former racing professionals on Tuesday, the common response was, "I'm in the wrong line of work."

Safety Improvements and the Full Story

Although there has been a notable decrease in horse deaths during HISA's and Lazarus's tenure, we still do not have the full picture. A fatality rate of 0.8 per 1,000 starts in races has been reported at HISA tracks, but comparable data for horses dying during training is lacking. We are promised this information this winter, so we will have to wait and see.Saving horses' lives may be worth the money, but this truth comes with a caveat. A safer sport does not justify excessive and wasteful spending. CDI and NYRA, although not typically associated with warmth and fuzziness, are attempting to clarify these issues in their lawsuit. They argue that large purses for races have become an illegal basis for setting HISA fees. Unlike previous litigation that focused on constitutional issues, they are now following the money.All this discussion about salaries and large balance sheets may ultimately be just rhetoric. We do not expect Lazarus or her followers to experience a reduction in their direct deposits. Nor do we expect Churchill, which made $417 million last year, or NYRA, a revenue-rich non-profit that received a $455 million state loan to rebuild Belmont Park, to back down from their legal stance.It would be nice if, in the midst of all this financial chaos, there was some consideration for the people who truly make the racing industry work. A small token of appreciation, you know, for their efforts. Is there room for reduced takeout? I'm asking for a friend. I'm sure the late senator from Wisconsin would be asking the same question up there.Ron Flatter's column appears Friday mornings at Horse Racing Nation. Comments below and at RonFlatterRacingPod@gmail.com are welcome, encouraged, and may be used in the feedback segment of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod, which is also posted every Friday.