FIRE AT STABLES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 149, 26 June 1944, Page 6

FIRE AT STABLES

FIVE HORSES PERISH

P.A. - CHRISTCHURCH, June 25. Fire which broke out in stables at Belfast owned by Mr. C. >S. Donald, one of the leading trotting trainers and studmasters in New Zealand, on Saturday morning caused the death of five horses and destroyed a building and a large quantity of valuable trot-; ting gear, the total loss representing some thousands iof pounds. The 'fire, the origin of which is unknown, was first noticed at 4 a.m. by a .neighbour, who gave the alarm. The stables were at the rear of the main stables and were divided into two blocks, one of five boxes and the other of three. Before any rescue could be attempted the fire had got a very firm hold of the block.vof 'five boxes, which were completely destroyed, and it was impossible to save any one of the occupants,; three of which; appeared to have been suffocated and not burnt.

■ The dead horses include the wellknown pacing stallion Accountant, by Jack Potts—Auditress, owned by Mr. W. E. Stickings, Christchurch; a three-year-old colt by Jack PottsAuthor Dillon mare, a brother to Joan Conquest, and owned by the Auckland sportsmen Messrs. Gudsell and Barker; a three-year-old colt by Jack Potts —Bracken, owned by Mr. W. E. Stickings; a three-year-old gelding by Lusty Volo—Jack Potts mare, the ■name of the owner of which cannot be ascertained; a yearling filly... by Lusty Volo—Marama Rose, owned by Mr. L. Mortlock.

When it was found that there was no chance of saving the block of boxes or the horses, all attention was paid to saving the adjoining block, and this was accomplished with the help of an excellent water ■ supply that Mr. Donald has installed for watering hisf track and general purposes. But for this plentiful water supply, it appears certain that a great deal more damage would have been done to the buildings, gear, and fodder.

Mr. Donald said that with the exception of Accountant all the horses were young, but-, had shown the greatest promise in their work.' Three of them were rising four years, which he expected to be the basis of a good team for next season's racing.