LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Churchill Downs could be sidelined if it doesn’t pay $2.4 million in overdue horse racing fees by March 26, a federal oversight board ruled this week.
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Board (HISA) ordered the Louisville track and three affiliated racetracks — Turfway Park, Ellis Park, and Presque Isle Downs — to pay unpaid 2025 charges plus interest.
The fees fund national programs for horse safety and drug testing. The board said Churchill Downs and its affiliated entities violated federal rules by failing to pay their allocated 2025 assessments.
If the payments aren’t received by the deadline, each track could be prohibited from holding scheduled races until the fees are settled.
Churchill Downs disputes the methodology used to calculate the fees, arguing payments should be based only on the number of racing starts, not purse amounts.
The Authority’s board rejected that argument, saying its rules are consistent with federal law. Churchill Downs and its affiliates can appeal the ruling within 10 days.
The ruling comes amid ongoing federal oversight to ensure safety and integrity in horse racing nationwide.
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