Over a dozen horses were horrifically killed after a massive fire broke out at a racetrack in upstate New York early Tuesday morning.
The inferno engulfed a barn housing 18 horses in the backstretch of the harness track at the Saratoga Casino Hotel around 2:30 a.m., according to authorities.
Emergency responders were able to evacuate several horses from nearby buildings, but a total of 17 died in the “advanced fire,” the Saratoga Springs Fire Department said in a statement.
One equine managed to flee the barn of full of flames and only suffered minor injuries, officials said.
Trainer Robyn Mangiardi lost 11 horses and trainer Timothy Benson lost the other six, according to authorities.
“The loss suffered today is heartbreaking for our racing community,” Saratoga Casino Hotel CEO Sam Gerrity said in a statement.
“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.”
No firefighters or civilians were injured, and the fire was contained to the barn, according to the fire department.
The casino said it plans to work with the local hospital to provide grief counseling for trainers, caretakers and owners impacted by the tragedy.
The Saratoga Casino Hotel is not affiliated with the famous Saratoga Race Course. That track, which sits across the street from the hotel, hosts the Travers Stakes and has been temporarily hosting the historic Belmont Stakes while Belmont Park undergoes renovations.
“This is a sobering day in our industry, a horse person’s worst nightmare,” Henry Westbrook, president of the Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association, said in a statement.
A memorial service honoring the dead horses is expected to be held at a later date.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.