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CYPRESS (CNS) - A 2-year-old gelding who was vanned off after suffering an injury while racing at Los Alamitos Race Course is being evaluated for possible surgery, track officials told City News Service today.
Alltime Favorite was injured in Saturday night's sixth race, in which he finished fifth. The official race chart says he “weaved,'' was injured and vanned off. No further information was available about the injury.
The Cypress track was placed on probation Friday by state regulators after a recent rash of racehorse deaths. At least 19 horses have died after suffering racing or training injuries this year, while another 10 succumbed to gastrointestinal and other types of illnesses.
"Three has to be a thorough review'' of why the horses died, said Gregory L. Ferraro, chairman of the California Horse Racing Board. “I think there is a culture there with the veterinarians and trainers pushing the envelope.''
The chairman said Los Alamitos must come up with a “feasible plan'' to address the issues related to the fatalities by a July 20 meeting.
“If they don't come up with a plan in 10 days, we're putting them on notice that we will suspend their license,'' Ferraro said.
Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald, who checks all of the horses at the track before and after the races, said she could not explain what caused the rash of fatalities.
“The horses in the cluster recently were not on any radar or suspicious in any way,'' Fitzgerald said Friday. “They were not on a course I was worried about.''
Alltime Favorite won his previous two races before Saturday's injury, both at Los Alamitos. The horse is owned by Five Livestock Company LLC and Steve M Wright and trained by Monty Arrossa, according to the industry website Equibase. His jockey was Jose M. Nicasio.