Fifteen horses are dead after a barn fire at four o’clock this morning at the Norfolk Downs Race Track in Chicago.

Only ten horses survived the fire, which is suspected to be arson. An arson squad has been called to the scene to investigate. The fire smoldered until noon, only leaving charred wooden supports of the one-story barn. Jim Connery, the fire chief, stated, “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 assistant general manager of the track, Dan Bucci said, “It could have been of an incendiary nature because it started in the middle of the barn, not at the end. The only heaters and electrical outlets were in the tack rooms at the ends of the barns.”

This tragic event occured one day prior to the opening of racing season, leaving jockey Albert Ramos emotional. Pointing at the surviving horses Ramos said, “That’s my best friends. I love horses more than I do people. I feel like I want to cry.”