San Luis Rey Downs equine death toll from Lilac Fire at 46

BONSALL – The death toll for horses at the San Luis Rey Downs Training Center affected by the Lilac Fire reached 46, according to California Horse Racing Board officials.

Officials have determined that the horses perished when the blaze tore through equine country in Bonsall and heavily damaged the San Luis Rey Downs Training Center, where as many as 495 horses can be stabled.

Among the horses killed was multiple stakes-winner California Diamond. The 3-year-old gelding owned by Rockingham Ranch had five wins and five second-place finishes in 14 starts, earning more than $475,000 in his career.

California Diamond's wins included the Santa Anita Juvenile Stakes, Barretts Juvenile Stakes, Speakeasy Stakes and Golden State Juvenile Stakes, all in 2016.

The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of donations at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and other smaller facilities, where volunteers assisted horses and their trainers displaced by the fire. Some missing horses have not been located.

“What we believe is a small number of horses escaped from a trampled-down fence to the hills,” California Horse Racing Board spokesman Mike Marten said. “Their status is unknown.'”

The effort to account for all horses has been challenging because horses and trainers frequently come in and out of San Luis Rey, he said.

Some missing horses have been located, including the Sovereign Award-winning Conquest Typhoon. The 2-year-old colt was treated for burns and smoke inhalation, according to Peter Miller Racing.

More than 800 horses from San Luis Rey and other facilities, as well as their trainers and handlers, are being housed at Del Mar.

They’ve been assisted by volunteers and donations of cash, food and supplies, said Luis Jauregui, a safety steward with the state racing board who was helping at Del Mar.

“When you lose a barn, you lose everything in your business,” he said. “Horses and humans are getting taken care of.”

Costco provided hundreds of pounds of apples and carrots, resulting in a surplus, and 65 mattresses came from Jim "Mattress Mack" Mcingvale, a Houston furniture store owner known for his philanthropy after disasters, Jauregui said.

The mattresses will ensure that trainers and handlers have a place to sleep while their horses are being stabled at Del Mar.

“The outpouring of support from inside and outside of our industry has been truly heartwarming,” said Tim Ritvo of The Stronach Group, which owns San Luis Rey. “Together, we’ll get through this.”

The Del Mar Racetrack is directing people who wish to help with the equine recovery efforts to a GoFundMe page that raised $480,000 in a day: http://www.gofundme.com/thoroughbredcare.

Other needs include alfalfa, grass, timothy hay, bedding and shavings.