Operations & Training

Man Charged in NY Race Track Fire that Left Dozens of Horses Dead

Nov. 10, 2023

More than two dozen horses at Tioga Downs perished in the barn fire that a Pennsylvania man is accused of setting.

Rylee Kirk

syracuse.com

(TNS)

Nichols, N.Y. — A man was charged with the arson after an Upstate New York casino race track fire that killed over 24 horses on Thursday, troopers said.

Boyd H. Fenton, 32 of Athens, Pennsylvania was arrested and charged after he entered a barn at the Tioga Downs Casino and set fire to it, troopers said.

The fire, set on Thursday morning, killed over 24 racehorses, troopers said.

A person, who was not identified by troopers, entered the barn to try to save the horses, troopers said. The person suffered second-degree burns and was taken to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pennsylvania, troopers said.

The fire caused thousands of dollars in damages.

Fenton was charged with third-degree arson, third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief and second-degree assault. He is being held in the Tioga County Correctional Facility, troopers said.