Overview
- A pre-dawn fire destroyed a backstretch barn at the Saratoga Casino Hotel harness track and killed 17 of the 18 horses housed there, track and fire officials confirmed.
- Firefighters and on-site security contained the blaze and evacuated neighboring barns so no people were hurt, according to the Saratoga Springs Fire Department.
- Of the horses lost, 11 belonged to trainer Robyn Mangiardi and six to trainer Timothy Benson, and the lone surviving horse escaped with minor injuries.
- Investigators have sealed the damaged barn as an active probe seeks to determine the cause, and the restricted area may remain closed for forensic work for days to weeks.
- Racing was canceled for the day and the track has arranged grief counseling, launched fundraising and plans for a memorial to support trainers, caretakers and owners facing steep emotional and economic losses.