Tragic loss as two horses die but 58 rescued in barn fire at Belmont Park

Two horses have died and 58 horses were rescued in a massive evacuation operation at Belmont Park following a fire that ravaged a barn at the New York track on Tuesday.

The two horses, whose names have not been released by the New York Racing Association, were trained by Wayne Potts and sadly did not survive the fire in barn 60 at the track, which NYRA employees first responded to on Tuesday evening before the Elmont Fire Department arrived at the scene minutes later.

The NYRA employees and fire department were joined by security and backstretch staff to provide immediate assistance to the horses stabled in the barn before the 58 horses, trained by Potts and fellow trainer Jeffrey Englehart, were safely evacuated and relocated. No injuries to barn staff or NYRA employees were reported during the fire.

NYRA CEO and president Dave O'Rourke said: "The tragic loss of both horses will be deeply felt by the hard-working women and men of the New York racing community, who dedicate themselves to the sport and to the care of these equine athletes.

"That collective dedication and sense of community was on display this evening, when the heroic and selfless response of so many prevented further loss and saved the lives of dozens of horses."

The cause of the fire is under investigation, with the spring campaign beginning on Thursday week at the track.

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