Participants run during the last day of the Running of the Bulls on Saturday, July 14, in Pamplona, Spain. The dangerous tradition has tallied thousands of injuries and 15 deaths since record-keeping began in 1924, including the fatal goring of a Spanish man in 2009.
Madrid (CNN) -- Two Britons and an American were gored Monday, the third day of the annual running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, authorities said.
Those three are among seven runners who were rushed to the hospital Monday after the fighting bulls raced through the narrow cobblestone streets of old town Pamplona.
There have been 15 deaths since record-keeping began in 1924 and thousands of injuries in the tradition that dates back 400 years.
The overall injury count this year -- following just three of the eight consecutive days of running, through July 14 -- is 15 runners hospitalized, including four who were gored.
High anticipation for Pamplona bull run
Those sent to the hospital so far are two Britons, two Americans, a Japanese, an Australian and nine Spaniards. The only Spaniard gored so far was a 73-year-old man from Pamplona on Saturday, the first day of the running, authorities reported.
Dozens of other runners have been treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Author Ernest Hemingway wrote about the bull running in his 1920s novel, "The Sun Also Rises" (also published under the title "Fiesta,") and crowds have poured in from around the globe ever since. The town has erected a statue to Hemingway outside the bullring.
On Monday, two British men, 20 and 29 years old, were gored in their right and left legs, respectively; an American man, 39, was gored in the right leg; and another American man, 38, suffered ankle and knee injuries and also was sent to the hospital, authorities said.
Six fighting bulls from the Cebada Gago ranch rushed from the corrals Monday, accompanied by six tame steers to help guide them toward the bullring.
All of the pack entered the bullring at 2 minutes, 26 seconds after the race began, according to images of Spanish state television. But a lone black bull was left behind in the crowd for a full minute afterward, causing tension for the runners around it. The bull charged into some runners, appearing to cause injuries, before finally entering the bullring to end the race at 3 minutes, 38 seconds.
Images from Monday also showed a man with his left arm around a woman's shoulder, as they ran together downhill into the bullring, just ahead of the raging bulls. The woman suddenly fell to the ground, but the hospital report Monday listed only seven men, no women.
The bulls face certain death against matadors later in the day.
The running of the bulls is the marquee event of the weeklong fiesta, named for Pamplona's patron saint, San Fermin. It includes nonstop activities -- including concerts, parades and amusement park rides -- that aim to appeal to all ages. The event is a huge boon to the local economy.
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A wounded man is treated for a head injury after running with Torrehandilla Torreherberos fighting bulls on Saturday.
A man sleeps at the entrance of the bullring before the next run starts.
Spectators watch as a participant is hit by a bull Saturday.
Participants run in front of Don Juan Pedro Domecq's bulls, during the seventh bull run of the San Fermin festival, in the the Northern Spanish city of Pamplona, on Friday, July 13.
A bull takes down a runner after a San Fermin Festival bull run, on Friday, in Pamplona, northern Spain.
Revelers run beside Don Juan Pedro Domecq fighting bulls at Curva Estafeta on Friday.
Participants run in front of Don Juan Pedro Domecq's bulls on Friday.
A reveler leans against the fence next to a painting of San Fermin in Curva Estafeta before Friday's running-of-the-bulls.
Revelers run beside a Don Juan Pedro Domecq fighting bull on Friday at Curva Estafeta.
Revelers sing el cantico a San Fermin under the San Fermin statue on la cuesta de Santo Domingo on Friday.
People take pictures as participants run by during the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, on Friday, July 13.
A man is thrown by a bull during the sixth day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival on Thursday, July 12.
A runner grabs the horn of a Victoriano del Rio fighting bull as they sprint toward the entrance to the bullring Thursday.
A participant in the running braces as a number of bulls pass close by on Thursday.
A bull jumps over revelers as others clear the way as the animals enter the bullring on Thursday.
Scottish runners from Glasgow and Aberdeen wearing kilts walk through the streets of Pamplona before the sixth day of festivities Thursday morning.
One of the bulls tosses a runner on Wednesday, July 11.
Participants run through the entrance of the bullring Wednesday on the fifth day of the festivities.
Participants run in front of El Pilar bulls on the fourth day of the San Fermin festival on Tuesday, July 10.
Two couples kiss as they wait for the fourth bull run to begin Tuesday.
Revelers read the day's newspapers as they wait for Tuesday's events to begin.
Thousands fill the streets and balconies along Estafeta Street during the San Fermin festivities Monday.
A bull chases revelers on the third day of the annual Running of the Bulls.
Participants run along Estafeta Street in Pamplona on Sunday, July 8.
Revelers celebrate during the Pena Voladora parade on Estafeta Street on Saturday, July 7.
A man receives medical assistance after being injured during the first San Fermin Festival bull run.
Participants run out of the way of Dolores Aguirre fighting bulls before entering the Estafeta corner.
People hold red handkerchiefs in the air during the opening ceremony Friday. The run in Pamplona started 400 years ago.
A participant gulps sangria Friday during the Chupinazo, which marks the first day of the annual event.
A reveler jumps from a fountain into the crowd at Plaza de Navarreria during the Chupinazo.
People try to escape the horns and hooves of the bulls on Saturday.
The eight-day festival became popular worldwide after author Ernest Hemingway wrote about it in his 1920s book "The Sun Also Rises."
Runners push past each other to escape the bulls.
A runner rests on a bench on the first day of the festival.
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