Wade's World

Fifteen horses dead at Norfolk Downs Race Track in Chicago after fire explodes in barn, one day before the opening of racing season.

The suspected cause of the fire is arson and an arson squad has been called to the scene.

Dan Bucci, assistant general manager of the track, stated, “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.”

Jim Connery, fire chief adds, “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 other 10 horses escaped including two horses who stampeded through the barnyard with their backs on fire.

The barn was a one–story, wooden structure. Only several rows of charred wooden supports remain after the fire.

A jockey, Albert Ramos, Miami, FL, watched workers as they cleaned up the area.

“That’s my best friends,” he said, pointing to the surviving horses. “I love horses more than I do people. I feel like I want to cry.”

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