Two Horses Die In Stable Fire In Carlow Pat Hughes's Bagenalstown stable in Co. Carlow was destroyed by a fire on Saturday lunchtime, killing two horses including recent Leopardstown winner Billy The Snake.Hughes was at Fairyhouse on when the fire started and he rushed home. His wife Eleanor was having her lunch when stable staff told her that a hay barn had gone up in flames.Over 40 horses were evacuated and were turned into a field but Billy The Snake and an unnamed four-year-old both broke legs in the panic and were put down.Hughes said at Naas yesterday: 'Four horses were injured and Billy The Snake and a four-year-old were killed. None of them were burnt but the two that died both broke legs. We think they panicked in the blaze.'A barn of straw was destroyed but otherwise we were all right. We don't know how it happened ? there was no electricity in the barn ? but there was a terrific wind that fanned the flames. Fortunately the barn was well away from the house.'It could have been a disaster but inthe circumstances we were probably lucky that we just lost two.' The fire raged for about three hours before it was finally extinguished.
