by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — In a ruling dated June 15, 2009, trainer Michael “Mickey” Burke will be suspended for four months by the New Jersey Racing Commission, starting July 8 and running to November 8, for two positive tests in horses under his care in 2006 and 2007.

Burke will additionally be fined $2,500 for the violations, lidocaine positives on two horses, both racing at The Meadowlands.

The first violation was for the horse Doggone Incredible on December 9, 2006 in a race in which the horse finished second. At the time, Doggone Incredible was owned by Sylvia Burke, Kevin Koury and M1Stable LLC.

The second violation was also for a positive test for lidocaine in the horse Smashingpringipisa, also at The Meadowlands, on March 22, 2007. That horse was a winner and was owned at the time by Sylvia Burke, Gregg Pistochini and M1Stable LLC.

Purse monies from those races had been held by the Commission but will now be released.