Arsonist suspected of starting racecourse blaze

Police are hunting a suspected arsonist after stables at Blenheim racecourse were torched at the weekend.

No horses were in the 15 stables set alight but about 18 horses from nearby stalls were released by onlookers.

Detective Mike Lawson said the blaze broke out in old wooden stables around 10pm on Saturday.

"It's an unexplained fire, and at this stage you would have to tend toward suspicious," he said.

Fire safety investigators were also looking into the cause of the fire.

Fire fighters from Blenheim and Renwick brought the blaze under control.

Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer John Phibbs said a man was by seen carrying a fuel can on a nearby golf course during the fire.

He was detained by police but later released.

- NZPA