Evidence of improved safety over the years does horse racing little good after nights like last Sunday, when three quarter horses sustained fatal injuries at Los Alamitos, the incidents occurring in three separate dashes in a 90-minute span.

The horses were were 2-year-olds competing in 400-yard trials for the Dec. 14 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity: The winless filly B Ratifyed was hurt while finishing eighth in race 5. The winless gelding Backside Ace left the track in the equine ambulance after finishing third in race 7. The gelding Champions Run was pulled up early in the race 8 and left in the ambulance.

Since the California Horse Racing Board began reporting horse deaths at the start of 2020, this is the first time three horses have died from injuries during a single racing card

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