Two horses die in Hughes stable fire

TWO horses died after a fire broke out at leading trainer Pat Hughes’s stables near Bagenalstown in Co Carlow, it was confirmed yesterday.

A hay barn was gutted in the blaze on Saturday lunchtime and more than 40 horses had to be evacuated and were turned into a field but two Billy The Snake and an unnamed gelding by Broken Hearted were injured in the panic and had to be put down.

"The staff did a great job to try and contain the outbreak", said Hughes