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Malibu Moon colt among 6 dead in Lorraine horse van fire; 2 were headed to Hushion stable

by | 04.16.2011 | 10:01am

UPDATED 6:15 p.m. A Lorraine Horse Transportation van carrying Thoroughbreds from Ocala, Fla., to New York caught fire on Interstate 95 north of Rocky Mount, N.C., on Friday night, leaving six horses dead. The incident occurred at approximately 9:50 p.m. near mile marker 135 in Nash County.

According to reports, hay in the midsection of the trailer caught on fire, apparently from a cigarette thrown from a passing vehicle. The driver noticed on a video from an on-board camera that smoke was coming out of the  trailer, awakened the back-up driver, and pulled over. The two attempted to put the fire out but it quickly got out of control. The driver and a passenger were unable to unload any of the horses. One of the drivers suffered burns while trying to save the horses, according to a published report. A source said one of the drivers was Bruce Manning, a longtime Lorraine Horse Transportation employee. An individual answering the company's telephone would not confirm any details surrounding the fire.

One of the fatalities was a colt by Malibu Moon out of Key Causeway, by Giant's Causeway. The colt was picked up from Eisaman Equine's farm, which sold him at the March OBS sale for $60,000 to Richard Schosberg, agent. He was owned in part by Dream Team Racing Stable. Dream Team president Jim Culver told the Paulick Report the colt, named Malibu Key, was en route to Belmont Park. Dream Team Racing Stable is part-owner of Risen Star Stakes winner Mucho Macho Man, a contender for this year's Kentucky Derby.

New York trainer Mike Hushion lost two horses in the fire. The first, for Barry Schwartz, was a homebred colt by Honour and Glory out of Schuylerville Stakes winner How About Now. The other was a Smoke Glacken filly for Black Swan Stable.  Daily Racing Form said a fourth horse was  a Forest Wildcat colt owned by Steve Schoenfeld scheduled to go to trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

Click here for pictures of the van fire.

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  • Cris

    How awful. Who was the transport company?

  • People who discard lit cigarettes from moving cars (or while walking outside) are idiots.

  • Burling

    That is so sad! To bad they couldn’t unload the horses first, instead of trying to put out the fire.

  • Denise

    My friend in Ocala said it was a Lorraine horse van. Very sad.

  • Jim

    One of the horses, a promising Malibu Moon colt that I am a part owner of, was on the truck. Very tragic. Our prayers are with the driver, who we understand suffered burns trying to get to the horses.

  • MED

    Jim, I’m so sorry this happened to you and everyone involved, as well as the horses. What a terrible, thoughtless act. All are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope the driver’s burns aren’t serious. Bless him.

  • Felix

    This is horrible. I have never heard of of vanning 2 year olds without an attendent riding in the back of the van. I’m left sort of wondering what really happened…. I hope my suspicions are wrong.

  • Ugh. What a nightmare.

  • How tragic. Our thoughts and prayers are with the connections of the horses involved.

  • Curtisw Mikkelsen

    How does a “flicked Cigarette” (Who does that any more) get into a closed van, going probably at least 60 mph.

    Was there attenant? More investigation required.

  • sanmo65

    A cigarette can easily be carried by an updraft one sent airborn out of a vehicle traveling at 60+ mph.

  • Canarse

    Thank you for following up on this heartbreaking story, Ray.

  • I have to hope as well the driver’s burns are not too serious.

    It’s too bad they likely will never be able to figure out who threw that cigarette. This should be a lesson to all never to be careless like that, you sometimes have no idea of the harm you might cause.

  • gail

    Let’s not pass judgment before we get more details. Yes, I lost a horse in the Charlestown fire in Sept 2010. Let’s do what we can to prevent these things from happening.

  • roseann

    I don’t think that there is a more awful way to die than by fire..I was working the back stretch at Philly when there was a fire many years ago..the worst!I hope the driver will be okay..they should have an attendant in the back..most drivers i know do.

  • jen

    This is a horrible thing that took place! If a horse van does not have an attendant they for sure have cameras to watch the back at all times! It serves the same purpose.

  • Pete

    In the old days there was the groom in the back. Now camera’s. But you need a set of eye’s to watch the camera.

  • Robin

    The horses were in box stalls. The trailer was equiped with cameras. When the drivers saw smoke they immediately pulled over. It takes several minutes to break down a box stall and even more time to pull out the ramp. My understanding was that the fire started on the floor of the van which would have prevented the removal of the horses in the peak and in the rear. There would have been no way to get the horses out. And if there was, there would be no way to safely contain them on I-95. The van is not fully enclosed. There are open windows to provide proper ventilation for the horses. A cigarette could have been sucked in the window. This is a terrible loss for the owners and trainers of the horses and also for the drivers and vanning company. Praying for all involved.

  • giveme a break

    If they can’t get the poor horses out in time after seeing smoke from the in cab cameras,then of what use are they. Also if the second driver”attendant” was sleeping,who was watching the camera. You have to believe it’s not possible the driver can drive a rig of this size & monitor the 6 babies in back at the same time.This is awful,but one instantly wonders could this have been avoided.Think about it.

  • WE JUST SHIPPED OUR 2yo LOUIS QUATORZE/CURE THE BLUES COLT(4/4/11) FROM VA. TO S.C. WITH LORRAINE(USED THEM BEFORE) & THEY DO A HELL OF A JOB FORE US…FREAK E THING HEAR…IT SHOULD BEE AGAINST THE LAW TO THROW A LIT CANCER STICK OUT OF ANY AUTO N ANY STATE…PERIOD…GET BUSY!!!…ty…

  • ED GREGORY

    So sad for all involved. Having a Small Horse Transport Buisness, I can only emphasize how much effort and care goes into shipping these beautiful animals. The Lorraine Van Co. has been a well respected and professional outfit for many years. This is a tragedy for everyone involved. Pointing fingers and making suggestions as to fault, serve no purpose at all.

  • JW

    Amen to that! A real tragedy to a well-respected, dedicted van company – and people have to skew things to blame them. Freak accident, period.

  • tony

    thankfully things like this dont happen very often as awful as it is. also speculation only starts rumors.the driver bruce manning is an excellent and concenious horse man and under the circumstances im sure did all he could.cameras are used to moniter the horses because in some states attendants are illegal to have in the trailer.also the trucks cant stop on a dime traveling at 70 mph.prayers go out to every one involved

  • Upstart

    “cigarette thrown from passing vehicle”, yeah right. This is why smart people use independents.

  • AREN’T ALL INDEPENDENT???…SMART A$$…

  • If a secured screen was required for all van and horse trailer windows and doors, it would deflect things like lit cigarettes and prevent something like this from happening again. Horses need air when they ship, and air flows through screens and screens would not cost that much to have or install.

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