Harrisburg, PA – It seems fitting that as the spotlight finds Foiled Again in his last campaign, it also finds his trainer and his ownership, who have been instrumental in the tremendous success of the horse – Ron Burke has been named Trainer of the Year for the third time (2011 and 2013), while the Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC combine will follow their 2013 Owners of the Year prize with another in 2018, in voting conducted by the U.S. Harness Writers Association.

Ron Burke winner of Trainer and Owner, with partners Weaver and Bruscemi, of the Year Awards. USTA Photo.

Ron Burke, who took over the training of the Burke Stable in late October 2008, has been an unstoppable force the last 10 years, achieving success levels unreached in the sport. He will reach 1,000 victories with his far-flung barn in 2018, his third time posting four figures, and his stable will top the $21 million mark in purses won for the sixth year. For his outstanding 2018, Burke got more votes from USHWA than did any other human (one horse did top him, though – Foiled Again).

And as always, there was quality in with the quality. The stable sent out divisional champions Warrawee Ubeaut (2PF) and Dorsoduro Hanover (3PC and millionaire); these two teamed with Percy Blue Chip (3PF) to give Burke three Breeders Crown Championships during 2018. Seasoned pacers Filibuster Hanover and Rockin Ron also earned more $500,000 each, giving Burke Racing/Weaver Bruscemi five horses who took down more than half a million; trainer Burke had a sixth in 3PF Youaremycandygirl. And then there was of course Foiled Again, who kept in good condition to race every year a Standardbred can race – 13, from the minimum of age two to the maximum of age 14.

Youaremycandygirl is an exception to the usual makeup of Ron Burke’s outfit – most of its horses are owned, in whole or in part, by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. So if trainer Burke has a good year, it’s probable that Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC followed along in suit.

An important component of Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC is the amount that they give back to the sport, which has provided them with successes and thrills. The “Foiled Again Farewell Tour” is a prime example. So too is their “policy” of usually having partners on most of their stakes horses – this is a way to give owners who might have a slight chance (to no chance) to have Grand Circuit horses be a part of the excitement of campaigning a world-class competitor against the best in their division throughout the stakes season.

Foiled Again and his connections will be honored at USHWA’s annual Dan Patch Awards Banquet, celebrating the best and brightest of harness racing in the past year. The banquet honoring the champions of 2018 will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2019 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando FL, the climax of a weekend that also finds USHWA holding its annual national meetings.

Reservations for those attending can be made through USHWA’s website, www.ushwa.org; a link to the hotel’s computer is on the front page of the website. Those who would like to take out congratulatory ads for award winners in the always-popular Dan Patch Awards Journal can do so by contacting Kim Rinker at trotrink@aol.com (the 2018 journal is online at the writers’ website). Information about purchasing tickets for the dinner will become available and be posted shortly.