Horses begin returning to San Luis Rey Downs

The San Luis Rey Downs training center in San Diego County is reopening this week, more than four months after a devastating wildfire that cost the lives of 46 horses.

Since the Dec. 7 fire, a majority of the more than 400 horses based at San Luis Rey Downs in Bonsall, Calif., were housed at Del Mar, about 35 miles to the northeast. As of Wednesday, about 200 horses have been moved to San Luis Rey, according to Del Mar officials.

Another 200 remained at Del Mar as of Wednesday, with trainers anxiously awaiting word when they can relocate to San Luis Rey Downs.

Horses have trained at Del Mar since early December, but that will end Friday. Trainers have been told to remove horses from the backstretch at Del Mar by Sunday to accommodate the National Horse Show, which is expecting to draw 1,300 horses and will occupy a large portion of the stables. The horse show will be held from Tuesday through May 6.

Del Mar will reopen its barn area for Thoroughbreds in early July in advance of the track’s summer meeting, which begins July 18.

San Luis Rey Downs is owned by The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita racetrack.

Tim Ritvo, the chief operating officer of The Stronach Group, said the barn area at San Luis Rey Downs should be ready by this weekend.

“I am being told before the weekend is over we will be ready for full capacity,” he said in a text message. “Guys are working day and night.”

The fire at San Luis Rey Downs destroyed seven barns. The fire burned more than 4,100 acres and destroyed 200 homes and buildings.

Construction began earlier this year on 250 temporary stalls to replace the destroyed barns. Stalls for 200 horses were not affected by the fire.

“You always wish you have a little more time,” Ritvo said. “We’re really comfrtable with what the horsemen will see.”

San Luis Rey Downs is base for top trainer Peter Miller. Other trainers, notably Richard Baltas, Phil D’Amato, and Doug O’Neill, have divisions there for young horses and horses returning from layoffs.

San Luis Rey Downs will have a capacity for 450 horses, Ritvo said.