Kentucky Barn Fire Leaves 22 Horses Dead

Twenty-two horses, mostly thoroughbreds, were left dead after a fire swept through a barn early Friday.

Dec. 12, 2003

HENDERSON, Ky. (AP) -- Twenty-two horses, mostly thoroughbreds, were left dead after a fire swept through a barn early Friday.

The fire happened at Cross International, a boarding and training facility on the backside of what used to be Riverside Downs. Fire officials estimated a $500,000 loss but they expected that number to rise.

Eighteen horses perished inside the barn, Fire Chief Bill Shaw said. Four escaped but had to be put to death because they were so badly injured.

The blaze started at about 3:30 a.m. but it wasn't spotted until shortly after 4 a.m., Shaw said. The first firefighters at the scene reported that the barn was fully engulfed and the roof had already collapsed.