Shannon Wright Machovec and Dial Nine One One

I first came across the name of harness racing owner, trainer, and, at one time, aspiring driver Shannon Wright Machovec of Elk Grove, California, while I was looking to write an article relating to the November 9, 2023, barn fire at Tioga Downs, Nichols, New York.  The fire claimed the lives of 30 harness racehorses and captured the hearts of the harness racing world.  Including Machovec’s.

In the hours following the tragedy at Tioga, Shannon posted an idea for a “fill-the-horse trailer” event which gained national attention minutes after she hit “post.”

Machovec was quoted in my November 13, 2023, article titled “We take care of our own – Tioga Fire” as saying, “I was brainstorming.  I know there are a lot of horsemen who can’t afford to donate money but still want to help.  Everyone has a tack box of stuff in their barn that they don’t use.”

Her sentiment was shared by many.  Not only was Machovec’s Sacramento, California based horse trailer event a smashing success, having a barn full of equipment reach the five trainers who lost everything due to the fire in around a week’s time, it also seemingly started a movement.

As posts began to pop up on social media, very similar to Shannon’s, and equipment made its way from across the U.S. and Canada, the donation drives got so big, and so numerous, they became part of the larger #TiogaStrong efforts.  And Shannon Wright Machovec fell silent.

She got quiet, but far from dormant.  Shannon packed that trailer the day it departed from Cal Expo racetrack, she continued to organize donations, and she continued to provide updates.  Only, she did it in the shadows.  There was no “look at me,” no “I did this,” no fanfare, no recognition, formal or informal.

The Tioga barn fire was personal to her, and I knew that, having quoted Shannon saying as much, “This is personal for me.  I had horses with (Edgar) Sparky Clarke back in 2001.  I consider him a friend.”

Yes, personal, but far from the whole story.  I’d later learn there was more than the Sparky Clarke connection that struck a chord with Machovec as she heard of the devastating fire clear across the country.

Shannon and I formed a friendship in the weeks and months following my first interview with her.  You know, a 21st century type of friendship – Facebook messenger, text, and phone.  But a friendship, nonetheless.  Recently, she asked me if I would write a story about her beloved ex-racehorse-turned-family pet, Dial Nine One One (Mahogany Express).

In response, the words that came out of my mouth were, “I’d be honored to.”  What I was really thinking was, “It’s the least I could do for you.”

Without further ado, here is the story of Dial Nine One One and the owner who loves him…

April 18, 1988, a rainy night in Wilton, California where a 22-year-old mare named Lindmark (Garrison Hanover), owned by Shannon Wright Machovec, was in foal at Judy and Marvin Hannah’s broodmare farm, Hannah Stables.

It was business as usual.  “We had Thaddeus Hanover, Spicy Charlie and Monterey Judge,” says Judy Hannah.  “We (also) had a very promising young stud named Thadrow who ended up (to be) Trotter-of-the-Year here in California in 1989.”

“We had just got home from work and got our rain gear to go out and feed the horses, we had about 20 or so,” Hannah continued.  “I had started the dishwasher and the coffee pot (when) all of a sudden Marvin noticed smoke coming out of the house.”

“We called 9-1-1 and then tried to get to our animals, four Yorkies and two cats,” recalls Hannah.  “I cannot tell you about the loss of my animals.”

She uninterruptedly goes on, “We had just gotten Lindmark, (when) she was ready to foal.  (During the fire) we got her out of the barn along with the foal. (Neither of them) were panicking, so (we) got them out (and) in the pen easily.  (It was a) very scary situation.

“I think I called Shannon, my memory (of) that day lives in me all the time, but I cannot remember all the details,” says Hannah.

Machovec also has her version of the events of that fateful day etched in her memory forever.

“Judy and Marvin called me to let me know my mare, Lindmark, had foaled a blood bay colt with four white socks.  I was so excited,” exclaimed Machovec.

“Then, hours later, when they came downstairs to check on the mares, Marvin noticed water coming from the light fixtures.  The apartment above the barn was in flames.  They tried to save their dogs but only had enough time to get the horses out,” Shannon tells me.

“When I got the call to (come) get my mare and foal, the fire truck was still there putting out hotspots,” she continued.  “When I first saw my new colt, he was red, with four white feet, and covered in soot from the fire.  I named him Dial Nine One One in honor of Judy and Marvin on (that) fiery night.”

Dial Nine One One moved to Greenbrier Farms, Pleasant Grove, California, where he lived during his racing career, which lasted approximately a decade.  He was trained by both Machovec and Sacramento area-based trainer Art Porrine.

“He wasn’t a money maker or even considered fast.  Art Porrine’s stepson, Todd Sauer, drove him and loved him,” says Machovec.

The handsome pacer made 119 lifetime starts, most of them on the California circuit, with seven wins, 13 places and nine shows.  He had a lifetime mark of 1:57.4, recorded at age eight, and earned a total of $21,554 for his efforts on the track.

Racing fans would, most likely, put Dial Nine One One in a category of lovable pets such as Snoopy or Mr. Ed, rather than with harness racing champions Jate Lobell and Frugal Gourmet. And that’s alright with Machovec.  She brought him home to her Second Chance Racing Stables when his days on the track were finished, to be just that, her pet.

9-1-1, as Machovec refers to him as, was there when she got married, and was there when she had her first child, Heather. He was also there for her second marriage, and for her second daughter, Jillian.  “He taught both girls how to ride,” she says with pride.

Dial Nine One One, the racehorse who was born shortly before a barn fire broke out, lived his days in retirement as every equine should, on a farm, with love, and care.  Machovec chronicled his journey through his senior years via a series of Facebook posts.

September 12, 2019, “As the sun comes up and I make my way to the barn to feed the horses, I stopped by Dial Nine One One’s stall to see him not eating the food I just gave him,” she wrote.

August 7, 2020, “Dial Nine One One, the love of my life!”

April 18, 2021, “I would like to wish Dial Nine One One a very happy 33rd birthday!  I’ve had you since you were born…”

And then, on December 28th, 2023, there was this, “This is one of the hardest posts I will ever have to make, On Wednesday, December 27th, we laid Dial Nine One One to rest.  He was 35 years old,” Machovec somberly declared.

Marvin Hannah and Art Porrine are no longer with us, God rest their souls.  Judy Hannah is now Judy Hannah Reynolds.  Time moves on, and does so in grief, at least for now, for Shannon Wright Machovec.

If you have read my column in the past, or are friends with me on Facebook, you may have noticed my writings are heavily influenced by the music and lyrics of Bruce Springsteen.  It is something which lives in the deepest depths of my soul, and I share with those are important to me.  Those who are special to me.  The people who have touched my heart.

I’d like to dedicate these closing lyrics to Shannon, and to Art, and to Judy and Marvin, and, of course, to the wonderful, to the lovable, to the not the fastest, not the slowest, not the richest, not the poorest, but the most super terrific racehorse Shannon Wright Machovec’s heart has ever known, the incomparable, the irresistible, the irreplaceable – DIAL! NINE! ONE! ONE!!

“May your strength, give us strength.  May your faith, give us faith.  May your hope, give us hope.  May your love, give us love…”

by Jason Rogers, for Harnesslink