Osborne employee talks of 'absolutely terrifying' ordeal after devastating blaze

An employee of Jamie Osborne has spoken of her terror at being woken by a fire that ravaged a bungalow at the trainer's Lambourn yard early on Saturday morning.

Katie Moffatt, who runs PR and communications for the trainer, and her friend Hettie Spencer were sleeping in the outbuilding but managed to escape before the raging blaze took hold.

No horses or humans were hurt in the fire which reduced the house to rubble, but it was a terrifying experience for those involved.

Speaking on Saturday, Moffatt said: "We came home from racing at Goodwood and went straight to bed. We were awoken at 4am by Hettie's dog, Hugo, barking but we didn't think much of it and went to sleep.

"Shortly afterwards we were awoken by the fire alarm and at first we thought it was a false alarm, so we leisurely got out of bed to be greeted by the sitting room and kitchen on fire and up in flames.

"It was absolutely terrifying. We tried to get as much important stuff out as we could but unfortunately most of my belongings are in cinders. We're lucky we managed to get out of a window."

Moffat added: "The most important thing is that the horses who were in the courtyard are safe. We're so lucky it didn't spread any quicker and across to them.

The devastation at the yard, with burnt silks among the remains after the blaze on SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It's devastating to see all our stuff, especially the silks and racing gear, in bits, but all horses and humans are fine. Things can be replaced but a horse or human couldn't be.

"We'd like to say a massive thank you to everyone – the Lambourn community came together and we've been inundated with messages."

Osborne tweeted footage of the blaze that could be seen burning brightly in the background of the stables.

Osborne said: "Everyone is fine, we got all the horses out.

"Luckily it was a bungalow on the yard at the Old Malthouse and, though it didn’t spread to the stables, we managed to get all the horses out and away from it. It’s only a house and everybody got out in one piece – no harm done."

He added: "Stan Moore has been very kind and we’ve put some horses in his yard. They should be all right to come back in today because those boxes are fine.

"Everybody has been very kind and everybody helped to get the horses out. It was great – it was Lambourn at its finest."

Despite the distressing scenes, that were followed by a work-rider breaking her ankle in a fall and four horses getting loose on the gallops, Osborne and his staff could take some solace in the victory of Constanzia, one of the trainer's four runners on Saturday, who took the 6f handicap at Chelmsford.

Jamie Osborne (right) and assistant Jimmy McCarthy after everyone is confirmed safe – and two champagne bottles are recoveredCredit: Edward Whitaker

Constanzia was based in a stable near the fire and her evacuation was hampered by her proximity to the blaze. Following the victory, Osborne, in a video released on Twitter, said: "I will confess to being slightly emotional. This is where I was standing last night with Constanzia, trying to comfort her as we couldn't get her out as her box was too close to the flames. All credit to her. She's won at Chelmsford. Amazing. What a wonderful filly."

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