UMVA has learned that a devastating fire at a horse barn in Saratoga Springs has sparked a statewide review of fire prevention and suppression systems in horse barns across New York.
The blaze, which broke out before dawn on June 16, claimed the lives of 17 horses at the Saratoga Casino Hotel's harness track. The fire department responded to a reported structure fire at about 2:31 a.m. and found the barn heavily engulfed in flames.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the barn contained 18 horses, with one escaping with minor injuries. The structure was destroyed, and the horses were owned by connections associated with two trainers, Robyn Mangiardi and Timothy Benson.
The New York State Gaming Commission has launched an immediate examination of fire safety practices and equipment at barns located at all 11 racetracks across the state. The commission's chairman, Brian O'Dwyer, stated that the review aims to determine what more can be done to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring.
Firefighters arriving at the scene found conditions already advanced, forcing crews to fight the fire defensively while focusing on protecting nearby structures from ignition. Emergency responders, law enforcement officers, track employees, and others worked to move animals from nearby barns when conditions permitted.
The fire remained confined to a single barn and did not spread to neighboring buildings, thanks in part to the swift actions of security personnel, first responders, and racing staff. Roughly 350 horses are normally housed in the backstretch section of the property.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the racing community, with industry leaders expressing sympathy and gratitude to emergency responders and track workers. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and a commission panel will review the Saratoga incident and assess barn fire-prevention infrastructure statewide.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the review will focus on ensuring that all tracks have installed smoke, fire, and heat detectors and fire extinguishers in each barn. The commission has urged tracks to take immediate action to install such equipment as soon as possible.
