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A barn occurrence astatine the Saratoga Casino Hotel Harness Track successful Saratoga Springs, New York, killed 17 horses and injured different aboriginal Tuesday morning, occurrence and casino officials said.
The occurrence broke retired astir 2:30 a.m. successful the backstretch country of the harness racetrack, the casino said. Of the 17 horses that were killed, 11 belonged to trainer Robyn Mongiardo and six belonged to trainer Timothy Benson.
No radical were killed oregon injured.
The Saratoga Casino Hotel is not related to oregon affiliated with Saratoga Race Course, which is located crossed the thoroughfare and is wherever the Belmont Stakes person been held for the past 3 years portion Belmont Park was nether construction.
The casino said the occurrence was contained earlier it could dispersed and lone affected the 1 barn. Officials from some contention tracks and exigency responders helped evacuate different horses being housed astatine different adjacent facilities, Saratoga Casino Hotel said. The casino said astir 350 horses are usually housed successful the backstretch area.
"The nonaccomplishment suffered contiguous is heartbreaking for our racing community," said Saratoga Casino Hotel CEO Sam Gerrity successful a statement. "Our thoughts stay with Robyn, Tim, their teams, the equine owners, and everyone affected by this tragedy. We are profoundly grateful to the information personnel, archetypal responders, and racing unit whose swift actions helped support the horses and radical successful the surrounding barns."
The origin of the occurrence was not instantly wide and is nether investigation, the Saratoga Springs Fire Department said.
Saratoga Casino Hotel said it volition beryllium moving with Saratoga Hospital to assistance supply grief counseling for trainers, caretakers and owners who were affected by the horses' deaths.
"This is simply a sobering time successful our industry, a equine person's worst nightmare. We explicit our heavy condolences to each impacted and convey each exigency responders and way workers for their speedy response," said Henry Westbrook, president Saratoga Harness Horseperson's Association.
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