Los Alamitos Race Course will expand safety measures for its evening Quarter Horse and lower-level Thoroughbred meets after three QH were euthanized following injuries on Sunday.

© Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–NOVEMBER 26, 2025–According to an article published on the Daily Racing Form on Wednesday, Los Alamitos plans to implement wider safety protocols at its evening meeting for Quarter Horses and lower-level Thoroughbreds after three Quarter Horses were euthanized as a result of injuries sustained during time trials for the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on Sunday.

B Ratifyed, Backside Ace, and Champions Run were euthanized after sustaining musculoskeletal injuries, according to the California Horse Racing Board’s website. B Ratifyed finished eighth of 10 in the fifth trial. Backside Ace finished third in the seventh trial and was listed on the official chart as vanned to the stables via equine ambulance. Champions Run was injured during the eighth trial, unseating jockey Armando Cervantes, and was vanned to the barn area, the chart noted.

On Tuesday, the CHRB informed Los Alamitos officials that the agency may call an emergency board meeting to consider suspending the track’s license for the evening meeting unless enhanced safety guidelines are implemented. The letter was co-signed by CHRB Executive Director Scott Chaney and Equine Medical Director Jeff Blea, and referenced chairman Greg Ferraro’s suggestion to convene an emergency meeting regarding the injuries.

The board said it was profoundly concerned about the track’s recent safety record, pointing to what it described as alarming, catastrophic injuries over the weekend. It warned that an emergency meeting would be held unless Los Alamitos made significant changes to its safety program and the number of injuries decreased quickly.

The CHRB directed the track to add a second CHRB veterinarian to conduct pre-race soundness examinations; ensure a private veterinarian is available in the stables during racing; have a second equine ambulance on site during races; further restrict intra-articular injections close to workouts or races; and hold weekly progress meetings with CHRB staff and commissioners, Blea, stewards, regulatory veterinarians, investigators, track officials, and other personnel who may help identify additional ways to reduce fatalities. Those meetings, the CHRB stated, should be held weekly until the risk is mitigated.

Los Alamitos officials agreed Tuesday to adopt the protocols. In a statement, management said the safety and welfare of equine athletes and humans is being treated with paramount urgency and that every measure listed in the CHRB letter would be implemented. Officials added they began working with their medical and racing teams on stricter safety steps as early as Sunday night, emphasizing that animal safety has always been their top priority and carries even greater weight now.

Through Nov. 23, Los Alamitos has recorded 19 musculoskeletal fatalities this year, according to CHRB data. Eleven occurred in races, six in training, and two were listed as other, involving back or spinal injuries. Of the 11 race fatalities, eight were Quarter Horses, and three were Thoroughbreds. Over the same period in 2024, the track reported 18 musculoskeletal fatalities.

The issue of equine fatalities was discussed briefly at the CHRB’s Nov. 19 meeting in Sacramento, where Commissioner Brenda Washington-Davis raised concern about two Thoroughbred training fatalities earlier in the month. Vice Chairman Oscar Gonzales told Los Alamitos officials the board takes the matter seriously.

Track officials reiterated that trainers involved in fatalities are required to attend a review with former equine medical director Rick Arthur.