Ron Burke speaks to USTA Driving School students
June 12, 2014,by Chris Tully, for the Harness Racing Museum
Goshen, NY — Ron Burke gave the keynote speech during Wednesday night’s (June 11) opening session of the United States Trotting Association’s Driving School.
USTA/Ken Weingartner photo
Ron Burke gave the keynote speech during Wednesday night’s opening session of the USTA Driving School.
By all accounts, his remarks were genuine and informative and gave listeners an inside view into the life of harness racing’s top trainer.
The reception was held at the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, where the country’s leading conditioner spoke for 20 minutes and generously took questions from the driving school participants for an additional 40 minutes.
“Ron Burke was a very engaging and insightful speaker, never shying away from hot topics such as training techniques, managing a large stable, drugs, and the pressure and perception of having the sport’s biggest stable,” noted Janet Terhune, the Museum’s director, who is also participating in the five-day driving school program.
The hour-long video is full of Standardbred training tips and what Burke considers to be the key to his success. Access to the YouTube video is available by clicking this link.
- USTA Driving School opens with welcome dinner (Thursday, June 12, 2014)
Soon after Michele Warner found her way to the United States Trotting Association’s website, she decided to find her way to upstate New York. Warner, who lives in the Los Angeles suburb of Diamond Bar, Calif., is among the participants in the 16th annual USTA Driving School.
- USTA Driving School is part of ‘bucket list’ for some participants (Thursday, June 12, 2014)
Larry Compton has a lengthy bucket list, but after this week it will be reduced by one item.
- Owner hopes to pilot his own horses after Driving School (Friday, June 13, 2014)
Jim Grow was introduced to harness racing by watching his father’s horses compete at the New York fairs. Grow now races his own horses at those fairs, but he would like to do more. He would like to one day be the driver of one of his horses there.
- Driving School honors go to Volunteer State student (Sunday, June 15, 2014)
Alan Roberts of Jamestown, Tennessee, with professional driver Adam Rucker on board, made a move before the three-quarter mile mark to take the lead and win the 2014 USTA Driving School Graduation Pace.