MOORE, OK—MAY 21, 2013—Quarter Horse trainer Randy Weidner lost his complete stable in the storm that hit Celestial Acres near Moore on Monday afternoon. The tornado is believed to be an F4 or F5. Dozens of people are reported dead with many more injured or missing. Recovery efforts are underway.

Among the tremendous damage and loss was the destruction of several horse properties, including the Orr Family Farm and Celestial Acres training center where Weidner was stabled. A large number of horses, believed to be approximately 75-100, have been killed in the storm. According to reports, many of these horses are believed to be American Quarter Horses.

"I lost all my horses that were there, 12 including the pony horse and two Thoroughbreds." Weidner said Tuesday. "The barn is gone, truck and trailer gone, we lived in the barn everything we own is gone," he said.

According to Weidner he was trying to get the horses out but the tornado was there too close and too quick. He said their first sign of real danger was when he saw storm chasers pull into the farm to video.

"The storm chasers loaded up their gear and yelled at us to leave now. We got in the car and left. We had no time to load any horses. Three minutes later the barn was gone," Weidner said.

"We lost everything, our jobs, our horses, our client horses and our livelihood."

The Minnesota native said "I have one client's horse at Canterbury and two more shipping up from Texas next week. We have to go back to work. I was due to ship and load out this morning (Tuesday)."

"The outpouring of calls and texts is incredible. Everyone is asking what do we need. We need everything, but are still trying to figure out where to start. The OQHRA and others have already started to help us," he added.

Home News Racing Breeding Stallion Register Sire Lists Auctions International Videos Blogs Photos Audio Handicapping Health Regional Special Events Breeders' Cup Triple Crown Eclipse Awards Downloads FREE Reports Industry Library Health Zone Tools Calendars Classifieds Directory Horse Profiles Services Advertise Subscribe Photo Store Shop More Than 100 Horses Dead Due to Tornado By Esther Marr, @BH_EMarr Updated: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 9:56 AM Posted: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 1:04 PM Print Google + More Than 100 Horses Dead Due to Tornado Photo: Orr Family Farm Tornado Damage at Celestial Acres More than 100 horses are thought to have perished in the massive tornado that hit the Moore, Okla., area May 20 in addition to the human lives that were lost. Dr. Glenn Orr and Tom Orr's Orr Family Farm near Moore, which sits on the 106-acre Celestial Acres Thoroughbred training center, sustained significant damage from the hit. "Right now we still don't have any specific numbers (on how many horses have died)," said Tony Vann, president of Vann & Associates, the public relations firm that represents the Oklahoma City area farm. Vann said it was difficult to determine the number of animals lost since Orr rents stalls out to multiple trainers and it was unclear exactly how many were stabled at the farm at the time of the tornado. "It's like a war zone here—(the horses) are just gone," said Vann. "It's just scorched earth—like a bomb went off." The farm's stalls and barns took a direct hit from the tornado, which was estimated to be on the ground for 40 minutes as it demolished everything in its path. It was estimated to be 3.2 kilometers wide. Three and a half of the facility's five barns were reported to be swept away. At around 4 p.m. ET May 21, the farm reported on its Facebook page that 34 of the Celestial Acres horses had survived the tornado and their health was good to excellent. Vann said debris had been found on the Orr property from the city of Moore all the way to Tulsa, Okla., which is approximately 90 miles from the farm. "Right now they are going through and looking at just what they lost," he said. On its Facebook page, the farm noted that while it sustained an "extreme amount" of damage to its property and adjoining facility, its staff is unharmed from the tornado. Vann said there were five employees in the farm's administration office, plus several seasonal workers on site when the tornado approached. All were able to reach safety before it struck. An exercise rider named Lando Hite, who survived the tornado by huddling in a Celestial Acres horse stall, was interviewed on CNN May 20. He predicted only one horse out of 80 that resided on the property had survived the disaster. "I tried to let some of the horses get loose and free out of their stalls so they'd have a chance," the rider said. Hite said he works for trainer Mark Lee, who had several horses stabled at Celestial Acres. Lee trains horses that have won stakes at Remington Park, Sam Houston Race Park, Fonner Park, Horsemen's Park, and Delta Downs. Canterbury Park Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred trainer Randy Weidner, who kept 12 horses at Celestial Acres, reported he had lost all of his stock, as well as a truck, trailer, tack, records, and computer in the disaster. A fund has been set up for Weidner, who was preparing to move his stable to Canterbury Park for the 2013 meet. Checks can be written to "Randall Weidner Catastrophe Trust" and mailed to: Wells Fargo, 380 S. Marschall Rd., Shakopee, Minn. 55379.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/78408/more-than-100-horses-dead-due-to-tornado?&utm_source=WeekInReviewNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20130522#ixzz2U2UrIvfH Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/78408/more-than-100-horses-dead-due-to-tornado?&utm_source=WeekInReviewNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20130522#ixzz2U2UdeF3Z or PayPal via RWQuarters@yahoo.com.

Oklahoma Relief Efforts

The Orr Family Farm posted a message to its Facebook page:
“We have been overwhelmed by the Orr Family Farm posted a message to its Facebook page: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of those fellow horseman who have volunteered their services, supplies and acreage. At this time, we are assessing the damage and are reconciling the number of animals lost or injured. We encourage everyone not to enter this area as first responders are still actively searching for human life. We have set up a hotline for those who would like to leave their name and number so that when we know more of our needs we may be able to call upon your generous offers. That hotline is (405) 283-2258. Once again, thank you for your show of generosity and know your thoughts and prayers have been heard by our family.”

Racing horsemen affected by the storm and in need of help are urged to call the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association at (405) 640-2628 or (405) 623-3234.

OQHRA and the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma have set up a fund within their benevolence organizations. If you would like to make a monetary donation to the affected horseman, send a check to the OQHRA Benevolence Fund and write "tornado relief" in the memo.

Send checks to:

OQHRA
P.O. Box 2907
Edmond OK 73083

You can call the office and make a donation by credit card (405) 216-0440 or you can make a donation via Paypal.

Further relief efforts for affected horsemen are being set up and will be posted here when information becomes available.

Both Remington Park and OQHRA are accepting item donations to help those in need.

Remington Park is collecting items at its racing entrance. OQHRA is collecting items at its Edmond, Oklahoma, office. OQHRA's address is:

OQRHA
3317 E. Memorial Rd.
Edmond, OK 73013

Among the items needed include:

• Clothes of all sizes for men and women, including shoes
• Kids clothing
• Diapers
• Water
• Coolers for water
• Toiletries
• Hand wipes
• Trash bags
• Storage tubs
• Work gloves
• Rakes and shovels
• Non-perishable quick food items such as energy bars, fruit snacks, etc.

AQHA in Amarillo is also collecting donations to take to victims. Items will be collected May 21-24 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. All donations will be delivered to Oklahoma on Saturday. Items needed include non-perishable food, toiletries, buckets, shovels and gloves.

The Women's Horse Industry Network is raising funds to help horse owners in the affected areas. People who wish to make a donation to this effort can do so by visiting WHIN's web site at www.womenshorseindustry.com.

Donations can also be made to help the general relief effort:

• The Salvation Army: To make a $10 donation, text “storm” to 80888.

• The Red Cross: Make a donation to www.redcross.org/okc or www.redcross.org or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

• United Way of Central Oklahoma’s Disaster Relief Fund is open. Donations may be made online at www.unitedwayokc.org.

• Contributions to the Moore & Shawnee Tornado Relief Fund can be made securely online at www.TulsaCF.org .