Tragedy Strikes Again
In the racing industry, barn fires are everyone's worst nightmare. The last few months have seen a couple of very serious incidents. The December 5 barn fire at Ohio's Lebanon Raceway claimed the lives of over 40 standardbreds. Days later, a fire in Brantford, Ont. resulted in a barn at Zorgwijk Stables being reduced to rubble. Now, tragedy has struck yet another
.
A report by gazettextra.com states that 27-year-old trainer Jenni King of Sauk City, Wisconsin lost six horses and 12 year's worth of equipment.
"She isn't ready to talk about the fire," her mother, Jan King, was quoted as saying. "She really loves the horses. She had quite an attachment to them. This is a big loss for her."
Jenni declined to be interviewed.
On Monday, February 1, up to 25 firefighters fought the blaze which took 40 minutes to get under control.
"I felt so helpless," said Mary Kline, who owns the farm where Jenni boards her horses. "You just don't know what to do or what to say, because I knew how well they were taken care of and how much Jenni loved those horses. It's just heartbreaking."
Click here to read the gazettextra.com article in its entirety.
(With files from the gazettextra.com)
To help her get back on her
To help her get back on her feet and back to the track her mother has set up a Harness Racing Fund in Jenni’s name at The Bank of Prairie du sac. You may donate to Jenni’s fund by sending a check or money order to:
The Bank of Prairie du Sac
PO Box 130
Prairie du Sac, Wi.
53578-9904
Make checks payable to: Jenni King Harness Racing Fund
Or stop in at the bank and make a cash deposit.
Contact Person: Jan King Phone: 608 370 2011
Also, the Christian Harness Horsemen's Association has set up a fund a well:
The CHHA (Christian Harness Horsemen's Association) will be having a fund-raiser to help fellow horsewoman Jenni King, who lost 6 horses and her livelihood in a tragic barn fire in Wisconsin. She had 4 horses that had been racing in Chicago and two more that she was training. She lost new harnesses she had recently purchased along with other equipment; trotting boots and pacing boots, and all of her coolers. Fortunately she had her jog cart and race bike stored in a different location, so they were not damaged.
Anyone wishing to help, please make the check out to CHHA and mark on the check that it is for the "Jenni King Fund". Any help would be very much appreciated. Send donations to: Weldon Stockwell (CHHA), 1846 Ross Road, Sunbury, OH 43074.