A fire that destroyed a horse stable in north suburban Round Lake on Saturday killed six horses – including a descendant of horse racing legend Secretariat.
The owner of the stable, Urbano Hernandez, says he thinks a fire he set intentionally to clear brush, sent hot embers drifting on to the stable, according to The Chicago Tribune.
He tells the Tribune he was able to save three of nine horses in the barn.
Among those killed was a horse named “Risky,” which Hernandez said was the grandson of Secretariat. The famous horse, a Triple Crown winner in 1973, died in 1989, after siring well over 600 foals.
Hernandez says another horse that died, A.P. Indy Prince, was a grandson of another legend, Seattle Slew. That horse won the Triple Crown in 1977.
Round Lake fire investigators haven’t yet determined the exact cause of the fire.
