Los Alamitos Faces a Crucial Moment After 18 Racehorse Deaths This Year
In a troubling year for California racing, Los Alamitos Race Course is under fierce scrutiny after 18 horses died or were euthanized in 2025—three of them on a single Sunday. Following these heartbreaking losses, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) has issued a serious ultimatum: enact safety reforms immediately or face the potential loss of the track’s racing license.
According to CHRB officials, all three horses who died on Sunday—Backside Ace, Champions Run, and B Ratifyed—suffered catastrophic racing injuries. Required postmortem examinations are underway to determine the exact causes.
Regulators Step In
The CHRB sent a letter to Los Alamitos leadership expressing significant concern regarding the track’s safety record. Executive Director Scott Chaney noted that an emergency meeting may be called under CHRB Rule 1435—giving the board the authority to suspend racing entirely if immediate improvements are not implemented.
The reforms are not optional. Track management responded by pledging full cooperation, stating that safety has always been a priority but will now be treated with “even greater urgency.” Weekly meetings with regulators and medical directors are already scheduled.
See the Minimum Required Reforms
• Add an additional regulatory veterinarian for morning examinations.
• Ensure a private veterinarian is present nightly during racing.
• Utilize a second equine ambulance during race events.
• Further restrict IA injections near racing and workouts.
• Attend weekly safety and regulatory meetings with CHRB staff.
A Troubling Pattern Over Multiple Years
This year’s fatalities mirror last year’s total, when 18 horses died from racing or training injuries in 2024. Los Alamitos was even placed on probation in 2020 after a similar spike in deaths. Although reforms were implemented, advocates argue they have not yet gone far enough.
Martha Sullivan of Kill Racing Not Horses delivered a sharp critique, stating that “no legitimate sport would tolerate the deaths of 60 of its athletes in 46 weeks in just one state.”
A Wider Conversation About Safety and Regulation
The scrutiny surrounding Los Alamitos reflects a broader movement in regulated industries: greater transparency, enhanced oversight, and stricter safety protocols. Professionals in fields such as real estate, insurance, healthcare, and finance know well that compliance isn’t optional—it’s fundamental.
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