Lexington, KY – On another steamy day Tuesday (Aug. 12), conditioner Ron Burke broke another of his own records to continue rewriting harness racing history. The Hall of Famer captured his 16,000th career race at The Red Mile when Kimpanzee (Yannick Gingras) crossed the line in 1:54.2 in the seventh event, a $10,000 wildcat Series division, on the 17-race card.
There are not enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe Burke’s achievements or what he has established in harness racing. Actually, there is no trainer, present or past or possibly in the future that can rival his accomplishments.
Take for example, the training standings this season. Burke has already collected nearly 300 more victories and more than $8 million in earnings over his nearest competitor.
Saying he towers over the opposition is an understatement.
All this transpired from a child that told this reporter more than a decade ago, he was afraid of horses as a youngster and became involved in the sport due to his late, great father, Mickey Burke.
A Canonsburg, Pa. resident, Burke is based at The Meadows with his 300-head strong “Burke Brigade”, yet relayed he was thrilled to hit this milestone in the Bluegrass.
“Really happy it happened here (at The Red Mile),” he said. “My new home away from home.”
Burke has now amassed an astounding $359 million from 74,111 trips to the post as of this writing.
How many champions has Burke been responsible for? There is Foiled Again, the highest earning Standardbred of all-time (Dragon Again, $7.63 million), Sweet Lou (Yankee Cruiser, $3.47 million), Atlanta (Chapter Seven, $3.12 million), Hannelore Hanover (Swan For All, $3.06 million), Buck I St Pat (Jailhouse Jesse, $2.32 million), Southwind Frank (Muscle Hill, $1.95 million), Warrawee Ubeaut (Sweet Lou, $1.84 million) and Mission Brief (Muscle Hill, $1.59). His most recent star is Louprint. (Sweet Lou, $1.18 million).
Burke also owns 20 Breeders Crown trophies which is second all-time behind only fellow Hall of Famer Jimmy Takter with many more to come.