KARACHI, June 24: The Saturday's rain accompanied by windstorm badly damaged the Karachi Racecourse and the officials supervising the repairs put the loss to the tune of Rs1.5 million.

Two horses — colt Hero To Zero and mare Fiza — lost their lives after cement sheets in the stables fell on them, Syed Ali Akbar Shah Rashdi told Dawn on Sunday.

Akbar said when he started surveying the premises on Sunday morning he found a terrible picture with damages all around including stable area, betting ring, pavilion, offices, commentary box, canteen and reeling around the racing track.

He added that computer, fax machine, window panes and wiring of the administrator office were completely damaged.

The KRC deputy secretary said concealed wiring of the VIP box located on the third floor in the main pavilion where Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara used to sit and the life members’ boxes were terribly destroyed by the rain.

"Electric poles, wires and trees are spread all over the area and there's no electricity since Saturday evening," he narrated the ordeal.

The official said the weekly races which were postponed and rescheduled for Tuesday will now take place next Sunday (July 1).