Seven racehorses killed as fires destroy 90 per cent of well-known racing stables

Seven racehorses have perished after devastating bushfires tore through one of Australia’s most renowned racing establishments.

Nearly 90 per cent of the Hayes family’s sprawling 1,500-acre Lindsay Park estate has been obliterated, including the residence of Ben Hayes. Family patriarch David Hayes, who trains world champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising, rushed back from Hong Kong to assist sons Ben, JD and Will in evacuating the horses to safety.

Officials have confirmed one fatality, with over 350 buildings and structures razed and livestock casualties estimated at 15,000. At least 12 major blazes continued raging on Monday, reports the Mirror.

The Hayes clan successfully rescued 320 horses but later revealed that seven of their charges had succumbed to injuries from the inferno – five that were resting from training and two retired racehorses.

Another horse remained in critical condition under veterinary supervision.

“Every possible measure was taken to protect all the horses and the property under extremely difficult and rapidly changing conditions,” a statement revealed. The priority throughout the event remained the safety of people and horses.”

Speaking to the SEN Track programme, David Hayes explained how the property’s watered paddocks preserved numerous buildings whilst the training circuits provided additional protection.

“We lost probably 90 per cent of our land, Ben’s house and a barn but the majority of the infrastructure was inside the protected zone which was the irrigated paddocks,” he explained.

“It protected the main house and the main infrastructure and stables. The tracks didn’t burn and they acted as great fire breaks till the wind direction changes.”

Hayes, who admitted the ordeal had left him ‘shattered’, continued: “We hadn’t slept for two-and-a-half days just fighting spot fires. The place had to be evacuated of staff and horses but it got very difficult. All the roads got closed. We were there on our own.

“Fires are bad but when 90km winds come in at 45 degrees, it’s like a hurricane without rain and you don’t want to be in them.

“Friday night when the fire had actually passed and there were spotfires everywhere, all the fencing was down and horses were going in all directions in the dark and then I was seeing the odd horse that was not getting up. It was very sad.

“Out of 327 on the property we lost seven and two of them were retirees and five of them unfortunately functioning racehorses. The ones that had survived but clearly couldn’t make it were euthanised on Saturday morning.

“Horses get in trouble so easily when everything is perfect and there were just hazards and trouble everywhere. They have survival skills that people underrate.

“They were basically letting the fire come right up to them then jumping onto the burnt ground, just staying in a herd. They were remarkably calm.”