A fire ravaged California’s San Luis Rey Downs Training Center on December 7th, killing at least 46 racehorses, decimating nine barns and leaving some heroic rescuers in hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Thanks to the efforts of trainers and other members of the backstretch, many horses at the 450-capacity facility in Bonsall were saved – either set loose or led away from the flames. But scores of promising young horses were injured and traumatized during the ordeal.
As those involved deal with the devastation and untold emotional toll, the local horse community and beyond have rallied to offer support on the ground and financially.
A GoFundMe page launched by Santa Anita’s Stronach Group and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has already exceeded its $600,000 goal. A working committee has been established to oversee the allotment of the funds, and, as of December 13th, $250,000 had already been distributed to people in critical need.
In addition, the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario has made a $5,000 donation to the California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation, Inc., a non-profit foundation which supports over 5,000 licensed backstretch workers and their families.
Dubbed the Lilac Fire and fuelled by Santa Ana winds, the fire raged for 10 days and destroyed 157 structures and damaged 64 others. No humans were killed in the blaze, which took more than 1,600 firefighters and other workers to extinguish.
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