Jason Rogers: We take care of our own – Tioga fire

Blazin Mooss.  Karpathos.  SD Watch Me Now.  Its Rigged.  Better Call Saul.  Hunts Point.  Prairie Dutchess.  Mc Mach.  Ruff Montana Lane.  Always Smooth.  Diamond Express.  Violence.  Pineapple Sundae.  Market Mayhem.  Hot Shot Joe.  Ideal Chance.  Da Boogie Man.  Payara.  My Delight.  Birdie Three.  Silverhill Misty.  Grant Me This.  Buzzards R Flying.  Slave Labour.  Hall It Off.  Stopwatch N.  Danzon Hanover.  Lone Wolf American.  Fireside Tail.

These are the names of 29 of the 30 harness racehorses who died senselessly in the early morning hours of November 9, 2023, at Tioga Downs Racetrack and Casino, located in Nichols, New York.  A fire which has been ruled as an act of arson by New York State Police investigators.

29 of 30.

The 30th horse, a yearling black colt, a baby, who was officially unnamed at the time of death is now being called “Baby Kardia,” according to Randy Taft, representative for the Southern Tier Harness Horseman’s Association (STHHA).

Taft also prepared a statement on behalf of the STHHA, “The STHHA is grateful for the generosity of the entire racing community after this tragic event which devastated the lives of 5 trainers (Daniel Harvey, Lee Morris, Kevin Reynolds, Jr., Allison Kolasar, and Edgar “Sparky” Clarke) and needlessly took the (lives) of 30 racehorses.  The racing community always pulls together in times of need.  We will pull through (this) as an even closer family moving forward.  All that were lost will never be forgotten and live in our hearts through eternity.”

As I read Taft’s statement, the part regarding community pulling together really resonated with me.  I thought back to the school shootings, and the hurricanes, and, yes, the terrorist attacks that we’ve endured in the past few decades.  I recalled how in the days following the events of September 11th, 2001, when most of the world cried until they were out of tears, afterwards, the civilized world community was ready to take action.  Sadness became strength, and divisiveness became unity.

The money, and the supplies, and the volunteers came rolling into New York City, and Washington DC, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  And those who didn’t have the means to send any of that, well, they sent letters, and thoughts, and prayers.  Everybody who wanted to, did what they could due to that sense of community mentioned in Taft’s statement.

October 3, 2001.  World Series, Game 3 between the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks.

President George W. Bush emerges from the Yankee dugout wearing a navy-blue New York City Fire Department (FDNY) jacket.  He was a cool customer, holding a baseball in one hand, and waving to the unified-in-cheer Yankee Stadium crowd with the other.  He crossed the first base line with his head up and his chest out.

The President didn’t stand in front of the pitcher’s mound to throw the ceremonial first pitch, as many do.  No, no, no.  President Bush toed the rubber, 60 feet 6 inches from home plate, as any major league pitcher would, and he threw a perfect strike.

The ball went straight down the center of the plate, much to the capacity crowd’s delight.  It wasn’t on the left and didn’t even lean slightly to the right.  America was brought together by tragedy.

#TIOGASTRONG

Just like 9.11, the events of 11.9 (I’m a horse player, I couldn’t help but notice the “exacta box” of dates) brought out the wealthy and their generosity.  Jeff Gural, Managing Partner of New Meadowlands Racetrack, pledged to match $100,000 of a GoFundMe campaign set up to support the horsemen affected by the tragedy.  That GoFundMe has already eclipsed the $100,000 mark.

Trainer Joe Holloway, a 2019 inductee into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame, announced on Facebook that Perfect Sting, Dan Patch Champion Pacer at both 2 and 3 years old, has donated $10,000 and a breeding to be auctioned off which will benefit the horsemen victimized by the fire. He also went on to say, “Sting supports the people and horses of Tioga.”

Then, far from the bright lights of the Breeders Crown, the Meadowlands Pace, or the Yonkers Trot, there are the Shannon Wright Machovec’s of the industry.  The small-time owners who love their racehorses like pets, keep them happy, healthy, and on the track.

I caught up with Machovec, a small owner based out of Cal-Expo Racetrack, Sacramento, California, by phone after seeing her Facebook post that seemingly started a movement.

“I was brainstorming,” says Machovec.  “I know there are a lot of horsemen who can’t afford to donate money but still wanted to help.  Everyone has a tack box of stuff in their barn that they don’t use.”

That “brainstorming” led Machovec to the Facebook post asking people if they’d be interested in a “fill-the-horse trailer” event with everything collected being sent to the affected horsemen at Tioga Downs, clear across the country.

The results were astounding.

“This is personal for me,” she says.  “I had horses with Sparky Clarke back in 2001.  I consider him a friend.  (Trainer) Rick Bertrand donated his 8-horse trailer, truck and driving services for the cross-county trip.”

Owner Dave Dobbelmann wrote on Facebook, “Rick (Bertrand) and I will cover the fuel.  Let’s load that trailer.”

Susan Holm-Johnansen asks on Facebook, “Will he stop in Minnesota so those here can add some things?”  Dobbelmann replied within minutes in the affirmative.

Other requests began to pop up.

Donna Males posts, “I have a few sets of harness, and other equipment to donate to Tioga if anyone (is) going that way.  I am in Brighton, Ontario.”

Misty Lynn Carey hosted a barn purge and sold Tioga Downs Strong wristbands at Vernon Downs, Vernon, NY.

Butenschoen Racing Stable, based out of Florida, asked if any equine shippers or horsemen would be heading up north, that they have a bunch of equipment they’d like to send.

And, for the cherry on top, Kelli Donovan, member of the Michigan Pony Trotting Association posted, “Please let workers and owners know we, the horse world, give hugs from afar.  We are all deeply wounded with you.”

The horse trailer full of love departed Cal-Expo Saturday, November 11th, will make the previous mentioned stop in Minnesota, and then, according to Machovec, with make another stop, in Kentucky, where it will pick up actual racehorses being donated to the five trainers who lost everything in the fire.

I’ll keep you posted in this space as to these equine heroes’ names, and when they race at Tioga.  When they do step foot on the track, during each of their post parades, let’s fill the apron and grandstand with love and welcome them, and their new trainers, like they are the leaders of the free world throwing out the first pitch of the World Series in the wake of a horrible tragedy.  Let’s go from crying to being #TIOGASTRONG.

There’s a scene at the end of The Grapes of Wrath where Tom Joad tells his mother that he has to leave, and he doesn’t know if he’d ever see her again.  She’s sad and says, “How am I gonna know about ya, Tommy?  Why, they could kill ya and I’d never know.”  Tom responds by telling her he’ll be all around her.  He’ll be in the darkness that surrounds her at night.  He’ll be there when someone is fighting for what is right.

That’s you Baby Kardia, and your 29 equine angels.  We’ll feel you surround us when hooves thunder down the stretch.  We’ll hear you in a child’s laugh during a night at the track with their parents.  We’ll know you are there, consoling a disappointed face at the finish line after he lost $5 too much.  You are our Tom Joad.

For the five horsemen who lost more than can ever be given back, there’s a line in a Springsteen song that was written about how the country came together after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast in August 2005.  It goes like this,

“Where’re the eyes, the eyes with the will to see
Where’re the hearts that run over with mercy
Where’s the love that has not forsaken me
Where’s the work that set my hands, my soul free
Where’s the spirit that’ll reign, reign over me
Where’s the promise from sea to the shining sea
Where’s the promise from sea to the shining sea…”

I’ll tell you where all those things are Sparky Clarke and colleagues, they’re at Cal-Expo Racetrack in Sacramento, California. They’re in Ontario, British Columbia.  They’re in the lakes of Minnesota.  They’re in the Kentucky bluegrass.  They’re in the Florida sunshine.  They’re even in the swamps of Jersey.

And they’re making their way to Tioga Downs Racetrack, in Nichols, New York.

We take care of our own…

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Thank you for taking the time to read my piece.  It means the world to me.  If you’ve come this far, perhaps you’d like to take the next step and donate to the five Tioga Downs horsemen who lost everything in November 9th’s arson fire. You can do so safely by clicking on the below or by contacting Randy Taft, with the STHHA.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/nr8faj

Randy Taft – taftstable65@gmail.com

by Jason Rogers, for Harnesslink