Lindsay Park Lose Seven Horses to Fire-Related Injuries

[Wandering Eyes]

By Renee Geelen/TTR AusNZ

The bad news out of the Victorian bushfire crisis grew on Sunday with Lindsay Park announcing seven horses had died from fire-related injuries. One unidentified person has also been found dead near Seymour.

“Lindsay Park can confirm that seven horses have tragically been lost from injuries sustained in the fire,” read a press release issued by Lindsay Park. “Five were spelling racehorses and two were retirees. One additional horse remains in a critical condition and is receiving intensive veterinary care. All owners directly affected have been notified.”

The names of the horses have yet to be released.

The farm's staff, community members and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) managed to save 320 horses as fire devastated their property.

“Eight per cent of the property is irrigated and that eight per cent is still standing,” Sophie Steel, the general manager of Lindsay Park, told racing.com.

“The irrigated areas are all our key infrastructure and tracks; everything else is gone. Sadly, I can report we've lost seven horses. Five of those are racehorses, two of them are retirees. We had 30 retirees on the farm, the rest of which are being stabled here at Inglis and cared for.

She added, “There are 320 horses that are safe. When our fire plan was enacted, the focus was solely on saving horses, and we were able to save 320 of them. It was quite emotional for us watching float after float of all our competitors come to pick up and evacuate our horses here.

“We've seen the worst of mother nature in the last three days, and the best of humanity. Our community, there is nothing like it. We are very grateful.”

Inglis opened their doors at the Oaklands facility for horses requiring evacuation. The eight stable barns can accommodate up to 800 horses.

“As of this morning, we had 222 horses [at Inglis], and with conditions in the fires seemingly stabilised, we don't expect there to be an increase in that number,” Inglis Victorian Bloodstock Manager James Price told TTR on Sunday.

“Some owners have already decided to take their horses home, noting that their properties are no longer in damage. We would expect our numbers to drop over the next week.

“There are no horses at Inglis that require veterinary treatment. Any horse at Inglis is getting the appropriate care, and any horse that requires veterinary treatment is in the best care of veterinarians at clinics.”

The post Lindsay Park Lose Seven Horses to Fire-Related Injuries appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article