Mifsud’s Grand Lodge: Rita Burnett’s horses perish in Forbes stables fire

The racing community is rallying behind a heartbroken trainer from Central Victoria whose horses were killed in a stable fire as images show the gutted shell.

The racing community has opened its hearts to a Kilmore harness racing trainer and her extended family after 12 of their horses perished in a fire.

Almost $130,000 has been raised through a MyCause fundraiser for trainer Rita Burnett and her family following the horrific fire at Mifsud’s Grand Lodge in Forbes in Central Victoria.

More than 390 donations had been made to the MyCause fundraiser started by Bacchus Marsh locals Bianca Walker and Tara Croad.

“As well as coming to terms with the devastating loss of their horses, the Burnett and Mifsud families have also lost possessions and have a long way to go to rebuild,” Biancall Walker said.

“Rita and Moni would be the first to help someone in trouble, and now we need the harness racing community to show the same support to them during this horrific time.”

Ms Walker, a long-time family friend, said she had been speaking to trainer Rite Burnett daily since the incident.

“The first 48 hours they were operating on pure adrenaline,” she said.

“They’re the type of family to just press on and keep going but this fire has been traumatic. They’re never going to forget it.”

She said the fire had destroyed equipment, machinery and safety gear - leaving the family without a place to continue running their business.

“It will be a long road, but there’s been so much support offered from many people in the community, donating equipment and machinery to help them get back on their feet,” Ms Walker said.

Among the donors were fellow harness racing trainers, a local bakery, and trotting clubs from regional Victoria and interstate.

The devastating scene of a stables fire at the Mifsud family property in Forbes, Victoria on July 8, 2022, where 12 horses perished. Picture: GoFundMe.

Police responding to the stable fire on July 8 at Mifsud's Grand Lodge on Kilmore-Lancefield Rd in Forbes. Picture: Liam Beatty.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said a “number of horses” were retrieved from the burning stable but it was understood 12 died in the blaze.

A picture on GoFundMe in a separate fundraiser for the Burnett family showed the devastation of the blaze, with the stables resembling a burnt out-shell and police establishing a crime scene.

The fire, which police have deemed non-suspicious, broke out in stables at the property on Kilmore-Lancefield Rd about 12.30am on July 8, with an occupant waking to what sounded like “popping noises”.

They went outside to investigate, finding the horse stables adjacent to the family home “engulfed in flames”.

Firefighters quickly responded to the blaze as residents made a desperate attempt to save the horses, with the fire brought under control at 1.12am.

Four patients were treated at the scene by Ambulance Victoria for smoke inhalation, including two men in their 50s, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s.

A Country Fire Authority spokeswoman said 10 tankers were called to the scene, finding the large structure “fully involved”.

“The fire was approximately 60m x 80m in size,” she said.

Firefighters were able to get the fire under control by 1.12am with the property deemed safe by 3.30am.

About 20 horses remain paddocked on the rural property, and had “cleared” by vets after concerns were raised about smoke inhalation.

Harness Racing Victoria CEO Dayle Brown said the industry body is reaching out to those involved to assist in this “difficult time”.

“This is obviously a very sad time for the participants involved and for the wider industry who care deeply for their horses,” he said.

Mitchell Shire Mayor Bill Chisholm said the incident was “devastating news” for the local community.

“Our thoughts go out to the family, friends and those in the local harness racing industry impacted by this tragic event,” he said.

“I would like to thank our local volunteer brigades, first responders and other emergency services who attended the scene. This would no doubt have been a very confronting and difficult situation and we are very thankful for their efforts.”

He said the shire had issued an emergency order to demolish the remaining parts of the building.