Dec 29 2007
Mafia kill 20 horses in blaze
AN arson attack that killed 20 prized racing horses was probably started by the Mafia, cops said yesterday.
Police think the Mob targeted the stables in northern Italy over a betting racket.
One said: “It’s possible the horses were costing the Mafia money in illegal gambling and they paid the ultimate price.”
The blaze in Vigone, near Turin, caused £1.5million of damage.
Devastated stables boss Mario Forestiero said: “We led some horses to safety but for 20 we could do nothing. We could only watch as the flames swept through the building.”
Grim footage of charred horse carcasses was shown on local TV.
The incident has chilling echoes of Oscar-winning film The Godfather, starring Marlon Brando, in which a movie boss wakes to find the severed head of his cherished racehorse next to him.
Fire crews took more than three hours to put out the stables blaze.
Staff at the complex – which houses 200 top horses used in trotting races across Italy – heard an explosion before the flames took hold.
Most workers were away due to the Christmas holidays.
A police spokesman said: “Traces of what appears to be a combustible liquid were found at the scene.
“The strongest theory is that it was a Mafia arson attack as part of a betting racket.
“There were a number of horses killed that had won several trotting races.”
A four-year-old champion called Gianmec was among those killed.
Mafia kill 20 horses in blaze - By NICK PISA in Rome - Published: 29 Dec 2007 - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article629727.ece
