Saratoga Harness Track Barn Fire Kills 17 Horses
A devastating fire broke out near the Saratoga Racecourse in the early morning hours of June 16, killing more than a dozen horses.
17 horse deaths have been confirmed, by officials, after the fire ravaged the barn that housed 18. The last horse escaped with minor injuries.
Video on social media Tuesday morning appears to show a barn near the Saratoga Racecourse on fire overnight.
The video of the fire posted on Facebook by a scanner feed page, shares the audio of the emergency calls stating horses were inside the barn at the harness track.
The fire reportedly broke out around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday in the backstretch area of the Saratoga Harness Track.
Nelson Avenue was closed between Gridley Street and Crescent Avenue in the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 16, according to police, and remained closed for hours to give room to the first responders fighting the Harness Track barn fire.
Despite the road reopening, as of 4 a.m. police say, emergency personnel including police and fire crews were still on the scene Tuesday morning. The area of the backstretch remains closed for an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Officials Respond to Harness Track Tragedy
A statement from the Saratoga Casino Hotel says the fire was contained to a single barn and did not spread to. Security from both Saratoga Casino Hotel and the nearby Saratoga Racecourse, along with emergency responders, acted quickly to evacuate horses from neighboring barns and secure the surrounding area, where 350 horses are typically housed.
“The loss suffered today is heartbreaking for our racing community,” said Sam Gerrity, Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Casino Hotel. “Our thoughts remain with Robyn, Tim, their teams, the horse owners, and everyone affected by this tragedy. We are deeply grateful to the security personnel, first responders, and racing staff whose swift actions helped protect the horses and people in the surrounding barns.”
The Hotel is planning to hold a memorial service to honor the horses that perished in the fire.
"Horse racing in New York is a community of hard-working people linked together by a shared commitment to the horses," David O'Rourke, NYRA President & CEO. "This morning's tragic fire at the Saratoga Hotel Casino Harness Track will have a profound impact on that community, and NYRA extends our condolences to all those affected by this loss."
Saratoga Casino Hotel is working with Saratoga Hospital to make grief counseling services available to trainers, caretakers, owners, and other members of the backstretch community.
"This is a sobering day in our industry, a horse person’s worst nightmare. We express our deep condolences to all impacted and thank all emergency responders and track workers for their quick response," said Henry Westbrook, President Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association.
Shirts to honor the horses lost are also being made.
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