6 Thoroughbreds Die in Track Fire : Racing: Workers injured in attempt to rescue horses at Woodbine stables in Canada.
TORONTO — Several people were injured and six thoroughbreds were killed Tuesday night in a fire that raced through a stable at Canada’s Woodbine Race Track.
Dozens of race track workers rushed to stables sheltering 56 horses to free the terrified animals.
One of the workers was taken to a hospital with second-degree burns to his hands. The others suffered smoke inhalation in the rush to save the animals. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening, and most were released by morning.
About 25 firefighters from suburban Etobicoke worked for an hour to douse the fire, which started at 10:20 p.m. at the track in the northwest corner of the city.
Woodbine, which opened in 1956, is one of Canada’s leading tracks. Last Sunday, it hosted the Queen’s Plate, North America’s oldest continuously run race.
None of the dead horses had raced in the Queen’s Plate.
Many people wept at the sight of animals trapped behind a wall of smoke and flames.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but officials said it appeared to have started in an area where straw is stored.
Two horses suffered serious smoke inhalation, and about 10 of the 56 stalls were gutted.
Conrad Blair confirmed that five of the dead horses were his. The sixth horse was owned by Mac Benson.
An Ontario Jockey Club official said the stables are owned by the race track and assigned to horse trainers.
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