Tioga fire kills at least 24 racehorses, arson suspect arrested
A barn fire at Tioga Downs Casino Resort in the early morning hours of Nov. 9 killed at least two dozen racehorses. A suspect was arrested on arson charges, according to New York State Police.
Police responded to a barn engulfed in flames Thursday morning at Tioga Downs in Nicholstown, New York. A number of racehorses were found dead at the scene of the accident. A man who tried to save the animals was taken to an area hospital with second-degree burns.
Boyd H. Fenton, 32, of Athens, Pennsylvania, was arrested in connection with the fire, which was determined to be intentionally set, New York State Police said in an update Thursday evening. Fenton was charged with four felonies, including third-degree arson, burglary, criminal mischief and assault.
The investigation revealed that Fenton entered the barn and intentionally set the fire, causing thousands of dollars in damage," a New York State Police statement said.
Fenton was arraigned before a judge Thursday afternoon and taken to the Tioga County Correctional Facility, police said.
The suspect has a long criminal record
Law enforcement has not provided a motive for Fenton's alleged arson of the Tioga Downs stables. Police said they "express our condolences to the affected individuals and families who lost their beloved animals in this tragic incident."
Athens is a small town in Pennsylvania just south of the New York border. Drive north to Tioga Downs, less than 10 miles away.
Tioga Downs is one of four casinos in New York State and features approximately 890 slot machines, 30 gaming tables and a FanDuel sportsbook. New York real estate developer Jeff Gural is the majority owner of the complex.
Gural also owns Vernon Downs Raceway in upstate New York, a speedway equipped with a video lottery terminal (VLT), and owns Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey.
Fenton has a lengthy criminal record in his home state. A search of court records turned up several cases, including driving under the influence of a controlled substance, criminal trespassing, criminal mischief causing property damage and possession of a small amount of marijuana.
Fenton pleaded guilty to criminal trespassing in June and served eight days in jail, according to court records. After his release from prison, he was placed on probation for 18 months.
Backstory of Tioga Downs
Horse Racing is located in the heart of the South Level and began in 1976 at Nichols. The facility was then known as Tioga Park. However, Tioga Park fell into financial disaster and hosted Quarter Horse racing for only three years before closing.
In 2005, Gural agreed to purchase the enclosed facility after New York lawmakers legalized VLTs at state-licensed racetracks and off-track betting facilities. He built a new standard track (5/8 mile) and opened Lacino in June 2006.
Gural received one of four Las Vegas-style casino licenses issued for the Upstate after New York expanded gambling in 2013. When the commercial casino finally opened in late 2016, the VLTs were replaced by slot machines and table games were introduced.
A year later, Gural opened a 160-room hotel. Sports betting entered the market in 2019.
The 2023 harness racing season at Tioga Downs runs from early May to late September. The $500,000 Empire Breeders Classic final on August 27 is the highlight of the calendar.
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Source: www.casino.org
