Equine fatalities rose for the second consecutive year at California racetracks and training centers in 2024, with disease and accidents contributing to the increase. After climbing from 66 fatalities to 82 in 2023, California had 108 equine deaths in 2024, according to figures provided by California Horse Racing Board equine medical director Dr. Jeff Blea.
The figures count all breeds—Standardbreds, Quarter Horses, and Thoroughbreds, with only the latter falling under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority oversight. The CHRB tracks fatalities not only from racing but from training, accidents, and in a category known as "other," which counts deaths from colic and other types of common equine ailments. A large increase in 2024 was in this category. In addition to racehorses, ponies are also included in the CHRB fatality tally.
Some regulators only monitor deaths from racing.
Of these 108, 106 were listed on the CHRB website on New Year's Day. Blea said the two others occurred in late December and were not yet posted.
He added a high number of "fluky incidents" contributed to the 2024 total in California, considered one of the safest states for racing. Following a much-publicized cluster of breakdowns at Santa Anita Park in 2019, the CHRB and track operators in the state began implementing sweeping equine safety regulations, some of which became a blueprint for HISA when it was implemented in 2022-23.
The 2024 fatality total in California includes some barn and racetrack accidents and a dozen from one Quarter Horse stable who were afflicted with equine infectious anemia that necessitated euthanasia.
Musculoskeletal fatalities from racing and training also climbed. Excluding those classified as "other," according to CHRB online data, 25 horses died in 2024 after experiencing musculoskeletal injuries from racing, up from 19 in 2023. Seventeen of the 25 were Thoroughbreds. Fatalities from musculoskeletal injuries during training went from 21 in 2023 to 23 last year. Twenty of the 23 were Thoroughbreds.
Asked what might be done for continued reductions, Blea said the regulator previously addressed equine safety changes representing the "low-hanging fruit." He views the areas of some fatal equine injuries, such as the fetlock and shoulder, as an area of continued focus.
"We need to keep doing what we're doing, but do it even better as far as examinations," he said. "More importantly, I think we need to look more aggressively at diagnostics for prevention.
"And what do I mean by that? I mean that from No. 1, the vets, the trainers, and the regulatory vets. Secondly, I think what we need to look at, and especially when I see a lot of these, the uptick in the other category. We need to be more proactive in getting these horses to referral hospitals sooner."
He said California may not have seen the fatality reductions that other states have experienced this year under HISA oversight because "we were already there" regarding veterinary requirements and regulations.
He said the CHRB also counts fatalities not tracked by HISA, mentioning other breeds and a young Thoroughbred not yet considered a Covered Horse under HISA.
"Part of the weight on our shoulders is that we lay it all out; we're very transparent," he said.
He believes equine wearable technology will further benefit horsemen and veterinarians in diagnosing unsoundness in horses. He mentioned that horses trained by Phil D'Amato and Leonard Powell are wearing sensors from a company called ARONEO and that trainer Tim Yakteen is utilizing a gait analysis app called Sleip to monitor his horses.
