The article Harnesslink doesn’t want you to read

[Jrogers]

I sent this letter to Harnesslink in response to the taking down of my previously published article “Don’t you forget about me - Tioga Fire Donations.”  They chose not to publish it. 

The article in its entirety and as originally published on Harnesslink is at the bottom of this post.

Dear Harnesslink Reader,

First, let me thank you for reading my harness racing articles on Harnesslink.com.  I appreciate all the feedback I receive, both positive and negative.  It thrills me and I love the banter with fellow lovers of the sport.

I realize that some people were offended by most recent article “Don’t you forget about me – Tioga Fire Update.”  The article has been taken off the website.  As I was writing it I knew it would get a reaction like this.  When I posted it on my personal Facebook page I explained my mixed emotions I had while I wrote it.

In my defense, nowhere in the article did I accuse anyone of misappropriating funds.  I presented a set of facts, the reader came to their own conclusions.

I received threats of physical harm most of the day yesterday, including comments about my children, parents, ex-wives, appearance, career and financial situation.  One guy went as far as to post a picture of where I live and threaten me with “street law.”

Is a column on harness racing really worth all that?

As for sinking to the level of the people threatening me yesterday, I apologize.  It was not my finest moment.

As for anyone offended by the article, I apologize.  These were my views, not Harnesslink’s or their advertisers.

I love writing about Harness Racing and it’s because of the reader that I am able to.  THANK YOU!

I saw Springsteen say in his Broadway show something regarding one plus one equaling two in the real world, but to make an impact, an impact that most people are not brave enough to make, one plus one has to equal three.  That’s how I approach my articles.  I realize not everyone will like that school of thought.

If you are reading this on Harnesslink.com it means they are giving me another opportunity.  If you are reading this as a post on my Facebook page, I appreciate your love and support.

Gratefully, Regretfully, and Fondly,
 
Jason Rogers



Don’t you forget about me – Tioga Fire Donations
By Jason Rogers
 
I doubt famous Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde had harness racing in mind when he famously said, “Speaking the truth that somebody wants you not to publish is journalism.  Everything else is marketing.”  Mr. Wilde, may not have had trotters and pacers on the brain when speaking this 19th century quote, nonetheless, it applies in this space.
My name is Jason Rogers and I am a journalist.  Not a public relations manager, not the head of marketing, and certainly not a fanboy.
If you’ve read my articles in the past you’ve learned that I’ll tell you when the track is trying to rip you off by pushing certain wagers.  I’m no shill for them.  If I write an article about a horseman’s wonderful come back from adversity, bet your bottom dollar I’ll press him about the things brought him down.  If he insists on only talking about the good, I’m not the guy to tell his story.
If this is your first time reading my column, thank you, and, welcome to the show.
So, I digress, over $800,000 was donated in the wake of November 9th, 2023’s barn fire at Tioga Downs, Nichols, New York.  Let’s find out where all this money went…
According to Dan Daley, counsel for the Southern Tier Harness Horseman’s Association (STHHA), and the man in charge of distributing the funds, the total amount donated was $812,237.36 with $804,887.50 having been distributed as of February 10th, 2024.
A total of $400,000 was split among the five trainers. If my math is correct, I think that equals $80,000 per trainer, hardly pocket change.
$404,000 went the owners of the 30 horses which perished in the blaze.  Those payouts were weighted based on the assigned valuations for each horse.
That leaves a little over $7,000 in cash left and an outstanding balance of $24,000 yet to be collected from donated breeding’s which were auctioned off.  Those dollars will be evenly distributed amongst the trainers, according to Daley.
Now, let’s take the case of Lee and Kayla Morris’ barn which lost 12 horses in the fire, some of which they co-owned.  Horrible.  Tragic.  I hope the $103,875 they received, $80,000 as a trainer and $23,875 as owners, helped ease the pain.
When I interviewed Ms. Morris for my January 4th, 2024 article, “Setting the record straight – Tioga Fire Donations,” she stated, “We need this (donated) money to survive.  We are so grateful.”
Now, when we give someone money, it’s not really our business as to what they spend it on.  Or is it?  Truth be told, I really don’t know what Lee and Kayla spent the funds on, but I can tell you how they “survived” in the wake of the pre-Thanksgiving act of arson, and I thought everyone who gave their hard earned money to the young couple would be interested as well.
On Kayla Morris’ personal Facebook page, January 23rd, 2024, there is a picture of the beautiful Morris family with lovable Disney character, Pluto.  In the photo it looks like Kayla’s got another one on the way – Congratulations!
Also on January 23rd, there’s a post titled “Florida 2024” accompanied by 74 pictures.  The Morris’ are handling snakes, they’re on waterslides, they’re going out to dinner – this family is the bomb diggity!
Now, this stuff isn’t cheap.  Where did this money come from?  Since arriving in the U.S. from England in 2022 Lee Morris’ stable, according to USTA records, has not earned over $225,000 ($125,122 in 2023 and $90,212 in 2022).  With his trainer percentage of the money won, and even if he owned slices of the horses, it’s still far from lavish Florida vacation money.
See, I guess myself and the Morris’ have a different definition of “survival.”  I work two jobs to survive and haven’t been able to take my kids to “The Happiest Place on Earth” in over 15 years.
So, where does all this ire towards the Morris’ come from, you may be asking?  After my January 4th column was published, Kayla messaged me to thank me for writing it and stated that she liked it, to which I was pleased.  The very next day I came across a post on Facebook, with a link to my article, which said I only wrote “half the story.”  And there was Kayla Morris in the comments, agreeing with the original poster. Bantering about how I left key elements out.  I. WAS. SHOCKED!
But you know what, she was right.  I left out the part where she told me that Dan Daley called her and threatened her.  She said the well-respected lawyer based out of Florida told her to “shut her mouth and sign the papers (to get the money).”
For this omission, I apologize to the Morris’.  I didn’t include the quote in my original article because I felt speaking that strongly against the establishment would not go well for them.  My kids are not that much younger than Kayla.  I guess I left it out in a fatherly type way, trying to protect her.  That is NOT my role as a journalist.
Here we are, Kayla claims Dan Daley threatened her, his response, “Her claim is nonsense. I spoke to both her and her husband on January 1st. They continued to claim that they should be paid more money. I explained several times that the other trainers had voted and they were the only ones to vote the way they did. They called me a liar and continued to interrupt me and talk in circles.  I told them that they could sign the donation documents and get the money, or not, but that I was done negotiating with them.”  Daley continues, “I will not tolerate someone questioning my integrity in this process. I have done all I can to get the money distributed fairly - and that has been completed.”
I don’t know if the iconic 1985 John Hughes film “The Breakfast Club” was popular in England or if Kayla Morris is too young to have even seen it.  See Kayla, it’s about these four high school students from different social circles who all get stuck in Saturday detention together.
Along with them in detention is the grumpy vice principal of the fictional Shermer High School, Richard “Dick” Vernon.  Vernon has disdain for these kids.  He sees himself in them.  He sees wasted potential, and he knows exactly how that turns out.  He resents the course his life took and sees these next generation know-it-alls walking down that same path.
Vernon gives this piece of advice to one of his younger counterparts, “Don’t mess with the bull, young man.  You’ll get the horns.”
I could hear that Simple Minds song playing now…
 
**I reached out to Kayla Morris for contribution to this article to which she did not respond.
 
 

[toothman]

Talk about getting the horns........unfo rtunate all around

[bello]

2 comments that will make no one very happy.

1. Jason, you should not assume in any way that the vacation the Morris' took was done with Tioga Downs vacation money. Maybe a benevolent relative or friend felt they needed a diversion and paid for the trip. Your comments were uncalled for.

2. The "set-up" or suggestion by Petrelli to to get the Morris' to sue you also gives me discomfort. I am one of the few who do not criticize Petrelli. As a matter of fact, quite the opposite. But the fact that Lee Morris and Yarock  own horse(s) together does not make for good optics.

[Brown jug]

wow, appreciate the follow up and the transparency, great work
i am not questioning them going to Florida and its not really up to them to defend that action  if they choose not,  to however that is based on some of the comments/questions below that should be addressed
$104,000 net !!, not bad
just curious? is this taxable as income??
not trying to minimize the horrible situation they went through
i guess the simple question is what  are the morris' and others doing or have done since receiving the cash
should not be hard to determine, have they bought/claimed horses to replace the ones that perished
have they bought new equipment ?
how many horses do they currently own or train
was there no stipulation on the use of the funds once distributed to the morris' and the others

[Kirbys Ace]

Looks like to me you "Screwed the Pooch" with that article and had no evidence to back up your comments just your innuendos on the Morris family vacation. Harnesslink probably took a beating from that article and has decided to say or in this case not to say..."See Ya"

[Yonkers1A]

Interesting read, I can see why Jason wrote this. Also, Disney is take out a loan crazy expensive

[shotgunner]

2 comments that will make no one very happy.

1. Jason, you should not assume in any way that the vacation the Morris' took was done with Tioga Downs vacation money. Maybe a benevolent relative or friend felt they needed a diversion and paid for the trip. Your comments were uncalled for.

2. The "set-up" or suggestion by Petrelli to to get the Morris' to sue you also gives me discomfort. I am one of the few who do not criticize Petrelli. As a matter of fact, quite the opposite. But the fact that Lee Morris and Yarock  own horse(s) together does not make for good optics.

I didn't even know about #2. I'm not surprised in any way, shape, or form. I've said for probably close to a year that Petrelli is using his crusade as a smokescreen to attack his enemies. Look at the Bill Rhoades situation, he talked about it for like 2 weeks and then not a peep. Part of that is likely cause the story he put out was false. But Ford, Faraldo, Jones etc its months and months of attacking them.

[SwankToliverA]

**I reached out to Kayla Morris for contribution to this article to which she did not respond.

I find the above statement to be laughable. Kayla would not respond to messages from you in regards to the article, but she would respond to it on FB?
Why did you only showcase the Morris', what about the other's who lost their horses and equipment?
Why did you attempt to make the Morris' look bad, stating they had a prior positive before coming to the States? Where are your articles written about all the drugging of horses throughout the industry?
Imo, it was a shitty article that at times, the wording left me wondering what drugs YOU are in Mr Roger's.

[bello]

Imo, it was a shitty article that at times, the wording left me wondering what drugs YOU are in Mr Roger's.

Go to HHR website and you will see.

[SwankToliverA]

Imo, it was a shitty article that at times, the wording left me wondering what drugs YOU are in Mr Roger's.

Go to HHR website and you will see.

Is this dude really on drugs?

[Brown jug]

went to disney at xmas( not by my choice but a family decision)
saw the xmas parade, the santa at the end was a skinny black guy with no beard
at least make the guy look somewhat the part, a pillow , a beard  etc
wokeness at its highest level

[bello]

Nice job on the call with Petrelli Jason. You were both civil and you clarified much. Next time reread your stuff and let someone else read it if you are concerned about hurting people. Which it seems you were, after the fact.

Good Luck    and your earlier articles about Tioga were well received.

[CMJAnew]

Nice job on the call with Petrelli Jason. You were both civil and you clarified much. Next time reread your stuff and let someone else read it if you are concerned about hurting people. Which it seems you were, after the fact.

Good Luck    and your earlier articles about Tioga were well received.

Please post the first article here too. If I recall there was mention of the pregnancy as it pertained to the dollars needed. I could be wrong (I often am),

[Ramnap]

The only thing we should hear from her mouth is gratitude. I don't like the article but I appreciate hearing they complained they didn't receive enough. Another nail in the harness racing coffin. Sounds like Trish Shepard.

[LAW AND ORDER]

UNLESS IT WAS STIPULATED WHERE AND HOW THE MONEY HAD TO BE SPENT, WHY IS IT ANY CONCERN TO ANYONE? ON A SIDEBAR, I FOR ONE LIKED YOUR STORY WHICH YOU ARE ENTITLED TO WRITE, BUT NOT WITH CROOKED PEN, MUCH LIKE SCM DOES. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DONT SEE ANY REASON FOR YOU TO HAVE SUFFERED TERMINATION BECAUSE OF THIS STORY. AGAIN, YOU REPORTED IT, MAYBE NOT IN A POSITIVE WAY, BUT REPORTERS CAN WRITE A STORY IN ANY MANNER OF WAYS. I. E. POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ATTEMPT OF SCM TRYING TO STIR ANOTHER POT. THAT IDIOT HAS ROOM TO TALK ABOUT NEGATIVE REPORTING! HAS THE DIRTY SOB EVER REPORTED POSITIVE HORSEMAN OR RACETRACK STORIES? I'LL ANSWER THAT. ITS A RESOUNDING NOOOOOOOOOOOO