Two more horses have died within four days at Los Alamitos Race Course in Orange County, California, according to news reports.

The 2022 death toll of horses exploited in the cruel racing industry has continued to mount this year, despite touted claims of reform. Nine additional horses have perished statewide since Lady Freethinker released our investigative report about horse mortalities in the racing industry — bringing this year’s deaths up to 51 horses, according to fatality data from the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB).

January Magic, a 2-year-old colt, suffered a life-ending injury while training at Los Alamitos on Oct. 27. Days later, 2-year-old gelding Apollitical Jet died suddenly on Oct. 30 following a race, according to City News Service.

These newest fatalities add up to 16 horses dead so far this year at the track, proven for years to be one of California’s deadliest. The details of these horses’ deaths are still under investigation, according to the CHRB.

A week prior to the deaths of January Magic and Apollitical Jet, the 3-year-old gelding Heaven’s Music was killed after suffering a catastrophic injury to his fetlock, or ankle joint while racing at Santa Anita Park in Los Angeles County, according to CHRB data.

As of Oct. 30, these innocent horses also have lost their lives for people’s cruel “entertainment” since the publication of LFT’s report:

  • Mia Solina died Sept. 4 after suffering a catastrophic fetlock injury while racing at Golden Gate Fields.
  • Echosmith was killed Sept. 18 following a training-related injury at Santa Anita Park.
  • Invictatatus died on Sept. 27 from colic at Los Alamitos.
  • Johneedwnthestreet was killed Oct. 1 for a neurological condition at Golden Gate Fields.
  • No Ice Cream died suddenly on Oct. 6 at Santa Anita Park.
  • Decline to Rule died Oct. 20 from an unspecified accident at Los Alamitos.

Nearly 34,000 people have signed LFT’s petition calling for a statewide ban on horse racing.  We thank everyone who has signed and called on California’s government to end this brutal, deadly “sport” that is really greed-driven animal exploitation.

If you haven’t already, please sign our petition to help us keep advocating for these innocent horses.

SIGN: Ban Horse Racing in California, Where Horses Are Drugged, Beaten and Killed