CHRB: Los Alamitos needs to address deaths

The California Horse Racing Board, in an emergency meeting Friday, gave Los Alamitos Race Course 10 days to come up with a plan to address an increase in equine fatalities at the track. There have been 20 racing and training deaths at Los Alamitos since Dec. 27, including eight since May 26.

The two-hour teleconference was punctuated by appeals from trainers, such as Bob Baffert and the Thoroughbred Owners of California to continue racing. However, most of the public comment period was dominated by animal rights activists — 13 of the 18 speakers — who wanted to close the track.

— John Cherwa

Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza has tested positive for COVID-19, according to his agent Brian Beach. Espinoza is the third high-profile jockey to test positive in the last few days. Martin Garcia announced he was positive as did Luis Saez, who was tested at Keeneland in Kentucky.

Garcia and Saez rode at Los Alamitos over the weekend, as did Espinoza.

— John Cherwa