Twitter feed link to Bloodhorse and writer Jeremy Balan including report on Martine Bellocq. Knew the surname - she would be PEB’s daughter-in-law.
Also includes photos at vet-run Trifecta Center where more than 70 horses were evacuated. Much more peaceful scene this morning.
Dr’s report on Martine Bellocq said her lungs are relatively undamaged which is great news.
Simon Brey from TVG just did a short live report from Del Mar’s stable gate. Looks like a mad house still… buckets stacked behind him. He said most of the horses arrived between about 6:00pm and 2:00am this morning. Often the trailers would show up, unload the horses they had and immediately leave to get more.
Richard’s Boy (I t think his name is), runner up in the BC Turf was missing for a number of hours but has been found.
Little Red Feather had a very promising two year old who was lost 
Sea World sent a bus load of people to help.
Jeremy BalanVerified account @BH_JBalan 2m2 minutes ago
Tim Ritvo of The Stronach Group, which owns San Luis Rey, says the equine death toll is around 40.
That’s terrible…each one lost is also lost income…what a devastating blow to the TB industry in So Cal, on so many levels.
The GoFundMe I posted above is now up to $200,834 (with a target of $350k). Supported by Anita Anita Park, The Stronach Group and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club as the official GoFundMe page for SLRD fire relief.
I think the last number I saw was about 250 TBs at Del Mar. Del Mar has many, many other horses that have been evacuated.
Trifeca, across the street from SLR, got about 75 TBs that were loose. Many still not stalled at Trifeca but those horses needing care are stalled.
Del Mar is working to open the main track for training tomorrow. Sounds like for many of the horsemen that for the horses that are healthy and uninjured, exercise and some return to routine would be good for them.
Still so much needed for the workers, many who lived at SLR. From the webpage…
[I]After the tragic Lilac Fire at San Luis Rey Downs Training Center in Bonsall, CA on December 7, 2017, overwhelmed the local horse community, the many affected horses and humans are in dire need of support. The industry has come together at an unprecedented rate during this heartbreaking situation and we turn to the community once again to request help where it is urgently needed. So many have offered their immediate assistance and many more are unable to be here but want to contribute in any way that they can. This GoFundMe page was set up for exactly that reason. Near or far, people will be able to offer any amount knowing that 100% will go towards serving all the Lilac Fire efforts. Feed, bedding, blankets and many other everyday supplies are still needed for both human and equine evacuees, and donations towards medical bills, housing, and other essential amenities are necessary to help the hurting California horse racing community. Santa Anita Park, The Stronach Group, and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club thank you for your support of the Thoroughbreds and the Horsemen overwrought by this tragedy.
Please note: Alexis Garske is an employee of Santa Anita Park and has created this page in partnership with the management teams of Santa Anita Park, The Stronach Group and The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.[/I]
For anyone local, this was posted on FB by a friend in the TB industry who was there yesterday trying to evacuate horses:
"Donations of goods needed for the displaced horses and personnel:
Horses are in need of actual water buckets (there are 100s of 5 gallon buckets that are fantastic for immediate use but not safe left in stalls), double ended snaps, feed tubs (race horse hanging bucket type), and hay nets.
Grooms are in need of about everything. These people sacrificed all of their possessions to help the horses. Immediately they need air mattresses, bedding (sheets, blankets, pillows), toiletries (hair brush, tooth paste, deodorant, tooth brush, shampoo, soap, feminine hygiene products), clothes (warm weather and cool weather), and gift cards for the holidays.
All donations can be taken directly to Del Mar or you can send them to NexStar and we will deliver them. I thank you all for your love and support. I understand that many of you want to help and this is the best way to do so at this time.
If you prefer to donate money you can do so at www.gofundme.com/thoroughbredcare"
The link posted above by @quietann also looks good.
From Facebook including phone numbers for nearby feed stores and TSC that can deliver to Del Mar, Amazon links, and the address where items can be sent to Del Mar directly:
Nicole Meiner
All surviving horses are out of San Luis Rey Training Center. Most are at Del Mar, others are at nearby farms. Many are still unidentified and so are officially unaccounted for, and about 30 passed away at the track. Del Mar is asking for halters, bandages, clips, blankets, carrots, apples, gloves, and shavings. If you are not in the area, the local Tractor Supply should be able to deliver supplies as they did for hurricane relief. I am hearing Stateline Tack may be doing the same. Mary’s Tack and Feed is also nearby. Phone number for them is 858-755-2015. Carter’s Hay and Grain is also taking supplies to the track. Their number is 760-436-4738.
Here is the gofundme for the efforts. https://www.gofundme.com/thoroughbredcare
There is also an Amazon wishlist set up, select the address associated with Del Mar. Items can arrive tomorrow with expedited shipping.
http://a.co/c12FUtD
Here is where you can donate money to the grooms who risked their lives to free the horses.
http://cthfcares.org/about-us/
Here is an existing fundraiser where the recipient has asked that the funds be redirected to help those involved in the fire. http://www.horseandman.com/…/bucket-fund-news-r…/12/07/2017/
Del Mar’s address: 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar, CA 92014
As I sit, snowed in in SW VA, I wish I could send this snow to So. Cal!
I can at least donate to the cause (I sent $$ to tca.org)
Reading that so many folks are donating to help – $10,000 from Stonestreet and owner Kaleem Shah giving directly to the backstretch workers who lost everything.
And though a much lower death toll, let’s not forget there was a horse lost Weds. night to a barn fire at Laurel Park, Pappa Portmore, RIP. Fire is something we all need to be extremely vigilant about.
http://www.theracingbiz.com/2017/12/07/laurel-park-barn-fire-leaves-one-horse-dead-backstretch-shaken/
Paulick Report retweeted that Runhappy owner Mattress Mack just donated 65 mattresses and box springs to the misplaced grooms and horsemen. After all he did after Harvey - allowing the shelter victims into his store, refunds for purchases if the Astros won.
He doesn’t quit. Also read he’s donated $500,000 to MD Anderson previously. He sure seems to want to do the right thing, even if picking horse trainers hasn’t always worked out for him. What a giving soul.
Mattress Mack is who we should all strive to be like…
Has just been reported that Ont bred graded stakes winner Conquest Typhoon has been located. Treating for smoke inhalation and burns.
But still several horses not found. Peter Miller still has 3. Others including Thor-Bred who bred BC dirt mile winner Battle of Midway missing 2.
But Trifecta center across from the training center apparently has many and was waiting to allow them in to search un-ID’d horses.
ETA: 12pm ET Thor-Bred located their remaining 2 missing horses in good shape.
Our partnership’s horses were found safe (not including a cut foot on the two-year-old) but apparently some horses are still missing in the hills after breaking through a temporary fence. And so sad to hear Conquest Tsunami did not make it.
I haven’t read all of the posts, is there a 501c3 that is collecting funds for the displaced grooms, barn workers and their families? I looked at the http://cthfcares.org/about-us/ link posted above, it looks like they provide medical care? While medical is clearly important, I’m thinking about a charity that will help them replace the contents of their homes asap.
I’m honestly clueless about race
tracks, but I’m so very moved by what these selfless people did and am heartbroken for all they have seen and lost…especially at the holidays.
Thank you!
On their page it gives a way to donate so that it goes to the fire victims.
A friend whose family is involved in AQHA racing mentioned another foundation that was taking donations but I don’t have the name.
Another friend went down to Del Mar today and wrote “Thank to all of you who donated items to help the workers of SLRD. (we) spent the past five hours passing out blankets, toiletries, towels, and jackets. At this time there is no need for more clothing other than ladies small and extra small underwear and shower sandals in various sizes. The request now is for small appliances such as coffee makers, microwaves, hot plates, and kitchen stuff (forks, knives, spoons, spatulas, plates, cups, mugs). Thank you all who have helped and donated items and time. The people are so appreciative and grateful. Debby Baltas has worked tirelessly to help all.”
It sounds like people are definitely getting needed supplies, which is wonderful news.
@danceronice , Conquest Tsunami actually did make it, saw this on Twitter from a Bloodhorse reporter: https://twitter.com/BH_JBalan/status/939527874331099137
Apparently it was a misread tattoo that lead to the initial report.
I have three huge boxes of clothes that I freshly washed and rolled up tight to cram more into each box that will be heading out tomorrow along with a monetary donation. Not since 9/11 have I felt this powerless and had so much despair over being unable to help in person. If I had been any closer than the complete opposite side of the country I would have thrown a sleeping bag in my trailer and headed out with my little rig.
As tragic as it is, the response by the industry has been gratifying and has renewed my faith. Some of the more minor (not life threatening injuries) injuries that really haven’t been reported occurred because people were trying to get their neighbors’ horses out. They might be competitors in the afternoon but that day everyone looked after each other. Folks completely outside of the racing industry and non horse people showed up at Del Mar spontaneously the next morning just to help. If they couldn’t handle horses, they passed out blankets and supplies and served food.
It’s a really remarkable community we have.
A first hand report of evacuations in the Lilac fire (nothing graphic)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y4ODG8f9aM
Pronzini, I am not there but yes, in reading so many of the articles, a really remarkable community and, at least for me, the scope of the impact is still coming in.
Requests for on-site physical and mental health as many of the track workers probably would not leave the facility to seek help. Trainer Cliff Sise really only has 2 lead shanks… no other tack with which to train his horses. Gary Mandella who had no horses at SLR traveled down to Del Mar to help trainer Michele Dollase.
Santa Anita reassured the horsemen that the $555,000 raised in the GoFundMe would go to help horsemen, backstretch workers and horses.
Rather than donating actual tack, donate to National Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association and ask to apply the money to the “San Luis Rey tack fund”.
CHRB 's equine medical director has advised horsemen and vets to monitor horses based on SLR to monitor for symptom of respiratory inflammation from smoke inhalation.
If horses from SLR were entered for races before December 26, attending vet has to certify the horse is unaffected by exposure to smoke.
As of this afternoon, 2 racehorses and a small number of yearlings are still unaccounted for, unknown if they are part of the 46 or not.
Truly amazing to see how people across the country are putting together. Saw a video of one an assistant trainer identifying a horse (forget the horse’s name) who was stalled. Choked me up to see the horse reach out to the trainer and the trainer cradle the horse’s head…
Devorah Aikman has been offering to evacuate horses but stealing them instead. Would be awesome if this was what actually put her away for good this time.
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