ARCADIA — Two racehorses died last weekend after suffering training injuries at Southern California tracks, state officials said.
Tailback, a 4-year-old gelding, died Sunday at Santa Anita Park, according to the California Horse Racing Board.
Rowboat Romeo, an unraced 2-year-old colt, died Saturday at Los Alamitos Race Course, the CHRB reported. He participated in a 220-yard workout that day, according to the Daily Racing Forum.
He is the 13th horse to die at the Cypress track in racing or training-related incidents during this race season, which began in late December.
Both horses required euthanasia after suffering injuries, according to Mike Marten, public information officer for the CHRB.
Los Alamitos has been the only track in California holding live horse racing since the coronavirus pandemic caused Gov. Gavin Newsom to order many non-essential businesses in the state to shut down, although fans are prohibited from attending.
At Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Tailback was the 14th horse to die in racing or training-related incidents at Santa Anita this season.
Racing at the track was suspended in late March in accordance with orders from the Los Angeles County Health Department because of the coronavirus outbreak. However, Santa Anita officials have submitted a written proposal to the department to resume live racing this Friday.
“With the latest LA County Safer-at-Home order set to expire on May 15, we are targeting that date to continue racing,” Santa Anita officials said in a statement. “This reopening is contingent upon the county’s Safer-at-Home order expiring that date and the county meeting their necessary metrics.”
