ALBANY, N.Y. – New York regulators are weighing whether to require fire sprinklers and automated suppression systems in all racetrack barns statewide after a blaze at Saratoga Casino Hotel killed 17 horses on June 16.
The New York State Gaming Commission has convened a special review panel to examine the circumstances of the fire and assess fire‑prevention infrastructure at the state’s 11 racetracks. Investigators determined the Saratoga barn, a wooden structure, had no sprinkler system and no automated fire suppression equipment.
“The fire at Saratoga was a terrible tragedy, and we offer our deepest condolences to the connections of the horses that were lost,” Commission Chairman Brian O’Dwyer said in a statement. “We are conducting an immediate, top‑to‑bottom review of fire prevention methods currently in place at barns and determining what more can be done to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring.”
While the review is underway, regulators are urging racetracks to ensure barns are equipped with smoke, fire and heat detectors, as well as fire extinguishers, in facilities that do not already have them.
Current Rules Under Scrutiny
State regulations currently require racetrack barns to comply with local building codes, which typically include basic fire‑prevention standards. But the Saratoga fire — along with several recent incidents — has prompted the commission to consider whether statewide, barn‑specific requirements are needed.
The review panel, chaired by Commissioner Martin Mack and joined by Commissioners Peter Moschetti and Jerry Skurnik, will evaluate the June 16 fire and conduct a broader assessment of fire‑prevention practices across all New York racetracks. The panel will present its findings to the full commission once the review is complete.
Details of the June 16 Fire
The early‑morning blaze destroyed a harness racing barn at Saratoga Casino Hotel, a gaming property that operates more than 1,200 video lottery terminals. The barn lacked both sprinklers and an automated suppression system, said Sarah Burger, legal counsel for the Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association.
Saratoga Casino Hotel has since donated $100,000 to the horseperson’s association to support trainers, staff and backstretch workers affected by the fire.
“This contribution will be used to support those affected as they begin the long process of recovery in the aftermath of an unimaginable tragedy,” association president Henry Westbrook Jr. said. “We greatly appreciate the outpouring of support from the community, and in particular, this generous donation from Saratoga Casino Hotel.”
