Fifteen Racehorses Dead Following Stable Fire
At four o’clock this morning a blaze killed fifteen racehorses prior to the start of the racing season.
A fire took hold of a barn outside of Norfolk Downs Race Track in Chicago. The barn had twenty-five racehorses stabled. Of the fifteen dead, thirteen of the horses were thoroughbred and two were saddle horses.
The fire started in the middle of the barn. Arson is the suspected cause because the only heaters and electrical outlets in the barn were in the tack rooms at the ends. An arson squad was called to the scene.
Jim Connery, fire chief made a statement, “The fire exploded near the center of the barn. Flames were shooting out of the building when we got here. The fire is definitely suspicious.”
The fire smoldered until noon and the only remains are charred wooden supports.