RON BURKE & BURKE STABLE

(of Fredericktown, Pa)
HARNESS RACING – ATHLETE OF DISTINCTION
TRAINER

Ron Burke was named Dan Patch Award Trainer of the Year:  2011, 2013 and 2018

He was elected to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame this year 2021 and will be inducted July 4 weekend, 2022

His horses won both the Little Brown Jugette and Little Brown Jug in 2021

His horses have twice finished second in the Hambletonian. Southwind Frank, who was beaten by a nose by Marion Marauder in 2016, and filly, Mission Brief, was runner-up in 2015. Four years ago, What The Hill, crossed the finish line first but was disqualified for interference in the stretch

Burke took over the family’s training stable from his father Mickey, the 2006 Trainer of the Year, in late 2008 and pushed the operation’s success to record-setting heights. He has led the sport in wins and purses each of the past 12 years and is on top in both categories again in 2021

His $260 million in career purses is a record, as is his more than 11,800 wins. He has won at least 762 races a year since 2009 and topped 1,000 victories three times. He has topped $20 million in purses seven times, including a record $28.4 million in 2014

He is the only trainer in history to reach $20 million in a season

Burke trained 2017 Horse of the Year winner, Hannelore Hanover. His other stars included 2014 Pacer of the Year, Sweet Lou, and 2011 Pacer of the Year, Foiled Again, who retired following the 2018 season as the richest harness racing horse in history with $7.63 million in lifetime earnings. He retired on New Year’s Eve after racing at The Meadows

Sweet Lou was inducted into the Hall of Fame in July. Foiled Again was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019

In addition to Burke’s success as a trainer, Burke Racing was named Owner of the Year (with partners Mark Weaver and Mike Bruscemi) in 2018 and 2013

In December 2019, Mickey Burke, Sr. – the patriarch of the most successful horse racing stable in the world — was honored by the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association at their 61st annual Awards Banquet, with the Chapter’s highest honor — its Lifetime Achievement Award