On November 23, three racehorses died at the Los Alamitos Race Course in Orange County, Southern California. Additionally, one horse died during training on November 8 and another on November 9, bringing the total number of horse fatalities at the track to 19 for the year. The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) has demanded reforms, prompting the racecourse to announce plans to enhance safety measures.
During the $2 million Championship Trials held at Los Alamitos Race Course on a Sunday, three 2-year-old Quarter horses suffered musculoskeletal injuries during the timing trials and had to be euthanized, according to the CHRB.
One of the horses, a mare named “B Ratifyed,” finished eighth out of ten horses in the fifth race before “losing response.” Another horse, a gelding named “Backside Ace,” placed third in the seventh race but sustained injuries from a collision at the start. The third horse, a gelding named “Champions Run” who had previously won a championship, was injured in the eighth race, causing the jockey to fall off. The exact injuries of these horses are pending autopsy reports.
In addition to the recent fatalities, a horse named “Tame the Tiger” died during training on November 8, and another named “Cayce in Gray” died during training the following day.
By November 23, a total of 19 horse fatalities had occurred at the racecourse this year, with 17 resulting from musculoskeletal injuries. Of these incidents, 11 horses died during races, with 8 competing in Quarter horse races and 3 in Thoroughbred races. Six deaths occurred during training, all due to back and spinal injuries, with two others attributed to different causes.
In the United States, over five million horses are registered as Quarter horses, making them the most popular and largest breed in horse racing. Quarter horses are known for their speed in short-distance sprints, with top speeds reaching up to 55 miles per hour.
The Los Alamitos Race Course, originally a ranch, began hosting horse racing events in 1947, introducing the $2 million 2-year-old Quarter horse races in 1995 and adding Thoroughbred races in 2014. The venue had been owned by the Vessels family before being acquired by Dr. Ed Allred in 1990, who ultimately became the track owner, with his wife, Cathy Allred, serving as the track president.
Established in 1933, the CHRB, currently under the California Department of Consumer Affairs, appoints seven board members appointed by the governor. Following the recent horse fatalities, the CHRB sent a letter to track president Cathy Allred on November 25 expressing “shock” at the incidents.
The letter stated, “Indeed, the concern is so significant that the Chairman of the board is recommending that, under the rules of the California Horse Racing Board, preparation be made to convene an emergency meeting of the board… to suspend racing licenses in the event of a safety hazard… unless significant changes are made to Los Alamitos’ safety plans to quickly and substantially reduce injuries and fatalities.”
The safety measures requested by the board include adding a veterinarian for pre-race inspections, ensuring on-site veterinary presence during races, equipping a second horse ambulance, restricting joint injections during training and racing, improving the track, and conducting weekly safety meetings.
Facing the risk of license suspension, the racecourse has pledged to strengthen safety measures, with management prioritizing the safety and welfare of horses and personnel and committing to implementing all measures listed in the CHRB’s November 25 letter.
The “fast license suspension measure” was introduced in 2019 after 42 racehorse fatalities at the Santa Anita Park thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, Los Angeles County. In 2020, the CHRB adopted rules allowing license suspension if “horse and/or rider injuries exceed average levels,” requiring a hearing with track officials.
In 2020, the Los Alamitos Race Course experienced 19 horse fatalities during races or training, leading to threats of license revocation by the CHRB, which then placed the track under a 10-day observation period.
In March 2022, four racehorse fatalities occurred at the track within two weeks, prompting the implementation of improvements such as track condition reviews, restrictions on certain hoof traction devices, removal of the “starting gate poles” used to help horses stand steady at the starting gate, and enhanced communication with veterinary officials from the University of California, Davis.
However, the horse fatalities in 2024 and 2025 have brought heightened scrutiny from the CHRB to the Los Alamitos Race Course, demanding “significant changes” or risking license suspension.