Five racehorses die in NSW stable fire
- August 21, 2012
HORSES enveloped in flames bolted from a stable blaze that killed
five standardbred racehorses in a tragedy that has rocked the harness
racing industry.
A block of 16 stables was destroyed at Leeton Racecourse, in the NSW Riverina, about 4am (AEST) on Tuesday.One end of the block was already engulfed when fire and rescue crews arrived and firefighters burned their hands trying to open the metal latches to free five more horses.
"The radiant heat had just set their rugs alight and their tails alight and we were trying to extinguish them while we were getting them out," Captain Graham Parks told AAP.
"The horses were that stressed and stirred up they were knocking firemen over. It was just chaos."
The crew also worked to contain the fire from igniting three other blocks of stables just six metres away.
"To see animals trapped in a fire like that, that can't get out and can't help themselves. It's a pretty cruel way to go.
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Trainer Phil Maguire lost three horses in the blaze including Garry Kelly, a five-year-old champion gelding.
His daughter Martelle, 17, is studying for her HSC and drove the horse to eight wins.
"You couldn't put a cost on them," Mr Maguire's sister-in-law Del Cope told AAP.
"Garry Kelly was loved that much by Martelle. The special bond they had, she wouldn't have sold it if anyone offered a million dollars."
He also lost Centaury and Provence, while trainer John Kefford lost two horses - Candys Art and Captain Stapleton.
"You'd shake your head and say 'no one would deliberately do this' but strange things happen, don't they," Ms Cope said.
"It's traumatic for the whole harness racing fraternity. Everyone's just that shaken by it."
Three of the surviving horses suffered burns and at least one was transported to Charles Sturt University for a smoke inhalation check.
"Burns assessments in animals are always difficult but they are likely to survive," local veterinarian Brian Munro told AAP.
He said the horses would probably race again but "not in the immediate future".
"Standardbreds are a remarkably stoic - if it were thoroughbreds it might be a different story," Dr Munro said.
Two horses escaped the fire unhurt, he said.
The aged stables were built from old red gum hardwood and police are considering the fire as suspicious while they investigate the cause.
His daughter Martelle, 17, is studying for her HSC and drove the horse to eight wins.
"You couldn't put a cost on them," Mr Maguire's sister-in-law Del Cope told AAP.
"Garry Kelly was loved that much by Martelle. The special bond they had, she wouldn't have sold it if anyone offered a million dollars."
He also lost Centaury and Provence, while trainer John Kefford lost two horses - Candys Art and Captain Stapleton.
"You'd shake your head and say 'no one would deliberately do this' but strange things happen, don't they," Ms Cope said.
"It's traumatic for the whole harness racing fraternity. Everyone's just that shaken by it."
Three of the surviving horses suffered burns and at least one was transported to Charles Sturt University for a smoke inhalation check.
"Burns assessments in animals are always difficult but they are likely to survive," local veterinarian Brian Munro told AAP.
He said the horses would probably race again but "not in the immediate future".
"Standardbreds are a remarkably stoic - if it were thoroughbreds it might be a different story," Dr Munro said.
Two horses escaped the fire unhurt, he said.
The aged stables were built from old red gum hardwood and police are considering the fire as suspicious while they investigate the cause.
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