Tragic Barn Blaze Claims Lives of 17 Horses in Saratoga
WHO:
CBS News - The horses involved included 11 belonging to trainer Robyn Mongiardo and 6 belonging to trainer Timothy Benson.
CBS News - Sam Gerrity is the CEO of Saratoga Casino Hotel.
CBS News - Henry Westbrook is the president of the Saratoga Harness Horseperson's Association.
WHAT:
WNYT.com - The barn housed 18 horses, with one horse escaping the fire with minor injuries.
WNYT.com - The barn fire did not have a fire suppression system, according to officials.
WNYT.com - Live harness racing was canceled on June 16 at the track due to the fire.
WNYT.com - The barn was completely destroyed in the fire.
WNYT.com - The Saratoga Springs Fire Department reported that when crews arrived, they found an advanced fire condition.
WNYT.com - The fire department stated that they worked to put the fire out while also trying to prevent it from spreading to nearby barns and structures.
WNYT.com - The barn fire destroyed a backstretch stable, killing nearly 20 horses and resulting in the cancellation of live harness racing.
WNYT.com - One horse escaped the fire and was mildly injured.
WNYT.com - A memorial is being planned for the horses who died, with details to be announced in the future.
CBS News - A barn fire at the Saratoga Casino Hotel Harness Track killed at least 17 horses and injured another.
CBS News - The fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. in the backstretch area of the harness racetrack.
CBS News - The fire was contained before it could spread and only affected the one barn.
CBS News - Approximately 350 horses are usually housed in the backstretch area.
WHERE:
CBS News - The incident occurred at the Saratoga Casino Hotel Harness Track in Saratoga Springs, New York.
CBS News - Saratoga Race Course is located across the street from the casino.
WHEN:
CBS News - The fire occurred early Tuesday morning.
WHY:
CBS News - The cause of the fire was not immediately clear and is under investigation.
HOW:
WNYT.com - Approximately 350 horses in nearby barns were led to safety by emergency responders and racing staff.
WNYT.com - Members of the Saratoga Casino Hotel security team rescued several horses before the fire grew too large to manage.
CBS News - Emergency responders and racing staff helped evacuate other horses being housed at nearby facilities.
CBS News - Saratoga Casino Hotel will work with Saratoga Hospital to provide grief counseling for those affected by the horses' deaths.
(UPDATED June 17, 2026 12:22 UTC)
A barn fire broke out, affecting 18 horses, with one horse managing to escape with minor injuries. Officials reported that the barn lacked a fire suppression system, which may have contributed to the situation. Fortunately, emergency responders and racing staff successfully led approximately 350 horses from nearby barns to safety.
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(UPDATED June 17, 2026 06:42 UTC)
A devastating fire at the harness racing track has led to the cancellation of live races, with the barn completely destroyed. When the Saratoga Springs Fire Department arrived, they encountered an advanced fire condition and worked diligently to extinguish the flames while preventing the fire from spreading to nearby structures. Fortunately, members of the Saratoga Casino Hotel security team managed to rescue several horses before the situation escalated.
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(UPDATED June 17, 2026 04:24 UTC)
A devastating barn fire has destroyed a backstretch stable, tragically killing nearly 20 horses and leading to the cancellation of live harness racing. Fortunately, one horse managed to escape the flames with only minor injuries. In response to this heartbreaking event, a memorial is being planned to honor the horses who lost their lives, with details set to be announced in the future.
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(UPDATED June 17, 2026 01:50 UTC)
A devastating barn fire at the Saratoga Casino Hotel Harness Track in Saratoga Springs, New York, has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 17 horses, with others injured. The fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. in the backstretch area, which typically houses about 350 horses, but was contained before spreading to other barns. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the casino will collaborate with Saratoga Hospital to offer grief counseling for those affected by this heartbreaking incident.