Shenandoah Fairgrounds Barn Fire

February 14, 2013

Blue Ridge Games uses the Shenandoah Fairgrounds for many of our open practices, clinics and competitions. We also have a demo during the Shenandoah County Fair. The grounds also promotes a ½ mile harness track that a few trainers use to train at. They have an older 42 stall shed row that these trainers rent out for some of their horses to stay on grounds.

This morning the shed row caught on fire and burned. Co-workers reported seeing the smoke from miles away on their drive to work past the grounds. I goggled it and read on Northern Virginia Daily that there was only one horse being stabled on the grounds at the time, and the owner just happened to be across town picking up Valentines gifts and saw the smoke. So he went to investigate and because his horse was at the opposite end of the stable, was able to get his horse out safely.

Rich Cooley/Daily
http://www.nvdaily.com

The news reports also stated that although no horses were hurt, 2 dogs died. Presumably they were the resident dogs that we always saw there and were locked in a stall for the night. Trainers also trailer in from nearby farms to use the facility and two of them were reported to also have equipment at the stables, including carts and harness, and that was all a loss.