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A deadly barn fire at Saratoga Casino Hotel that killed 17 horses has prompted New York regulators to order interim fire-safety measures at race tracks across the state and launch a broader review of aging backstretch barns.
The New York State Gaming Commission said it sent letters to 11 tracks under its purview directing them to install smoke detectors, heat detectors, or other fire-protection devices. The action follows the June 16 fire in Barn 21 at the Saratoga Springs property, where 18 horses were housed and only one escaped on its own.
Interim protections ordered at New York tracks
Gaming Commission Chairman Brian O’Dwyer said the state has required "the installation of smoke alarms and 24 hour monitoring" as a stopgap step, while also warning that temporary fixes alone are not enough.
Commissioner Martin Mack said some race tracks previously lacked smoke or fire detection devices. He also said the commission’s review is looking beyond equipment alone to fire-prevention procedures, emergency response plans, and coordination with local fire departments.
O’Dwyer said that while tracks may have been operating in compliance with local building and fire codes, "it appears very definitely that this is not enough."
Panel reviewing whether older barns need broader upgrades
The commission has formed a three-member Backstretch Fire and Safety Panel to review the Saratoga fire and inspect fire-prevention and suppression infrastructure at horse barns statewide. The panel has visited five tracks so far and is expected to complete its work and make recommendations by November.
Officials suggested the review could point to deeper problems than alarm systems alone. Mack said some barns may only meet current rules because of outdated grandfathering provisions. Commissioner Peter Moschetti said hazards are present at "almost every single track in the state" and described many barns as structures from the 1940s and 1950s with little updating.
Moschetti also said he was shocked by the lack of planning to deal with the Saratoga fire, including a shortage of water.
What to watch next
The biggest open question is what the panel recommends by November and whether the Gaming Commission moves toward broader statewide requirements for fire prevention, suppression, or emergency planning at horse barns.
The cause of the June 16 fire has not been provided in the source material. For Saratoga Casino Hotel and other New York tracks, the state review now centers on whether compliance with local code is enough to protect horses in older backstretch facilities.
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Source: As reported by news.google.com.
