Michigan barn fire kills five Standardbreds

A barn fire at veteran Michigan-based trainer Tom Clark's farm shortly after midnight Thursday has reportedly killed five Standardbreds, including a 2 year old, a 3 year old, two 4 year olds and a 7 year old. The fire was reported at 12:18 a.m. and totally destroyed the 40-by-120 foot barn, which also contained 3,000 bales of hay.

 

Clark had raced a horse earlier at Northville Downs and was not at home when the fire was first spotted by his wife, Jean, who tried unsuccessfully to get into the burning barn. According to reports, firemen were on the scene for 10 hours. An adjacent barn that contained farm machinery was saved by the firefighters. The local fire chief stated that the fire is not considered suspicious but was still under investigation.