A recent audit of the North Dakota Racing Commission revealed multiple financial and administrative issues spanning from 2021 to 2025. The commission, responsible for managing funds to promote horse racing and support breeders, was found to have exceeded the statutory limit on operating expenses from its Promotion Fund every year, at times by as much as 201%. Additionally, the audit uncovered lapses in grant management, including missing applications and lack of documentation on fund usage, as well as payments made without proper ownership records or adherence to state procurement rules.

Despite these findings, the commission maintains that no laws were broken, characterizing the issues as administrative and stemming from differences in interpretation. Executive Director Bruce Johnson stated that the commission is implementing audit recommendations to improve procedures and ensure transparency and accountability. The audit highlights a pattern of noncompliance but does not allege criminal wrongdoing or name individuals.