Stanley Cartel was just 4 years old when he stepped onto the track at Los Alamitos Race Course for what was meant to be his final race. Instead, he died in agony.

Captured on exclusive video by PETA, Stanley Cartel suffered a catastrophic leg injury during the Champion of Champions race in California on December 13. His leg dangled, broken beyond repair, as he collapsed on the dirt track. He was killed shortly after.

This wasn’t a freak accident. It’s part of a growing pattern of deaths at Los Alamitos. The track is already under investigation by the California Horse Racing Board after a series of fatalities. The trainer who once oversaw Stanley, Ramiro Castillo, was just banned after five horses in his care died since May. Yet racing continued.

How many more horses have to die before the system changes?

We are calling on the California Horse Racing Board and the leadership at Los Alamitos Race Course to:

• Immediately suspend live racing and training at the track
• Conduct full-body CT scans on all horses previously trained by Castillo to detect hidden injuries
• Launch an independent review of safety practices and veterinary oversight
• Permanently remove any trainers with documented patterns of neglect or animal deaths

These horses are not machines. They are living, sentient beings pushed to their limits for gambling and profit. Without urgent reform and a pause in racing, more horses will suffer the same fate.

Stanley Cartel’s death must not be another statistic. It must be a turning point.

Please sign this petition to demand real accountability and urgent action. Horses should not have to die for entertainment.

Photo: PETA