Louisiana barn fire kills 12 horses

The stallion Deerhound was among 12 horses who died in an early-morning barn fire at Benton Training Center in Benton, La., on Thursday morning. There was no loss of human life, according to J.T. Wallace, the fire chief in Benton.

The training center, which is also home to various stallions and breeding stock, is located about 20 minutes from Louisiana Downs.

Deerhound was one of 10 stallions that Velocity Farms lost in the blaze, said Shanna Berry, a partner in the year-old breeding venture with Sandi Blackman. Berry said five of the stallions were Thoroughbreds, while two mares also died in the fire.

"They haven't said what caused it," Berry said. "They're still doing the investigation."

Wallace said firefighters responded to a call about midnight from a person who lived on the property. The fire was contained to one barn, and that structure is gutted.

Berry said other stallions lost in the blaze included Filmore, El Lobo, Banderas and Wild Wildcat.