Tragedy At Saratoga Casino Hotel As Fire Kills 17 Horses

Saratoga is the heart of racing in Upstate New York, hosting races like the Belmont Stakes through the summer.

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It's one of the most highly sought after areas to race, outside of Louisville, Kentucky, and tragedy recently struck the area...

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Fire at the Track

At around 2:30 am on Tuesday, June 16th, a fire broke out on the Saratoga Casino Hotel property. It was located in a barn on the backstretch of the Harness Racetrack on Nelson Avenue, which, despite the Saratoga Springs Fire Department's best efforts, burned to the ground and was completely destroyed.

Despite the destruction of the barn, firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading amongst the other structures on the property. The source of the fire is still unidentified and currently under investigation.

The Aftermath

The barn in question housed 18 horses that were preparing for races at the track. Of the 18, 17 died due to the fire. No human injuries or deaths were reported as a result of the blaze. Nelson Avenue was shut down overnight, but has since reopened.

At the track, Live Harness racing was cancelled for Tuesday, the 16th, with plans to reopen as soon as possible. Saratoga Casino Hotel is still investigating, and will release more information once it is available.

John Matarazzo, director of racing operations at Saratoga Casino Hotel said about the fire: "Our thoughts are with the horse owners, trainers, caretakers, and all those affected by this tragic loss. We are grateful for the swift actions of our security, nearby NYRA personnel, and the Saratoga Springs Fire Department, whose efforts helped save numerous horses and ensured there were no injuries to people on site."

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