Investigation into stable fire hampered by extent of damage

It is not yet known what caused the fire but the Office of the Fire Marshal said it expects its investigation will be complete sometime Thursday. “Their income went out the window”, Young said.

On Jan. 5 Puslinch fire chief Steve Goode told the Advertiser “last night, around 11pm on Jan. 4, Puslinch fire received a 911 call for a fully involved barn fire with horses trapped”.

He said there is a benevolent fund that will offer some assistance to those put out of work by the fire and that other trainers may be able to hire some of them, but he was more concerned with their emotional state.

“We have to make sure they are okay, because they are living day to day”, O’Donnell said.

“This is absolutely devastating for (the township) and the horse community”, Goode said. The leading harness trainer in North America for the past seven seasons, Burke often races horses in Canada.

A crowdfunding campaign in aid of those affected by a southern Ontario stable fire that killed 43 racehorses earlier this week has raised more than $150,000.

“I would say no, based on the cost”, Tropea said, “And events like what happened two nights ago are extremely rare”.

A GoFundMe page http://web.bz/supportclassylane has been established by the Central Ontario Standardbred Association to help those impacted by the fire, which claimed 43 standardbred horses – including 17 either trained or owned by Ben Wallace.

“Wallace’s losses include a horse that had already earned more than $1 million over his racing career”.

Jody Jamieson, who drove Apprentice Hanover for the majority of his races, said he’s “absolutely devastated”. “They are just like zombies walking around right now”.

Classy Lane Stables is home to some well-known Ontario horses and trainers and the loss has shaken the horse-racing community.