This morning at Norfolk Downs Race Track, Chicago 15 horses died in a barn fire right before the opening of racing season.

The fire started in the middle of the stable at four o’clock with 25 horses inside. The fire smoldered all the way till noon and only ten of the horses escaped. An arson squad was called to the scene and it was told that there are only electrical outlets in the ends of the barn in the track rooms. Jim Connery, fire chief: “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.”

This tradegy affected a lot of people, both the people that owns the place but also the jockeys. One of the jockeys, Albert Ramos, says,  “I love horses more than I do people. I feel like I want to cry.”