An animal rights group is urging California state officials to suspend the racing licenses of Santa Anita Park and Los Alamitos Race Course following the deaths of three horses over a single weekend due to racing or training injuries. The incidents included the fatal injury of a filly named Imm Relentless at Los Alamitos, which also left jockey Cruz Mendez with a serious spinal injury, and two horses, Angelic Appeal and Cornhuskerchris, who suffered fatal injuries at Santa Anita. Santa Anita has experienced four horse deaths this month alone, adding to a troubling history of 12 deaths in 2025, while Los Alamitos had 19 last year. Despite these fatalities, Santa Anita officials highlighted their track’s high safety rate and recent improvements made since a 2019 crisis that saw 42 horse deaths and prompted legislative reforms.

The animal rights group Kill Racing Not Horses is calling on the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) to suspend racing at both tracks under a 2019 state law designed to protect horse and rider safety. They argue that the frequency of musculoskeletal deaths is unacceptable in any legitimate sport and demand immediate action. The CHRB and Los Alamitos officials have yet to respond publicly to the latest calls for suspension, while Santa Anita emphasized ongoing veterinary care and safety measures but acknowledged the tragic outcomes of recent injuries. The controversy continues to spotlight the ongoing challenges of ensuring horse welfare in California’s horse racing industry.