Anatomy of the Burke racing stable
by Murray Brown
Just about every fan of harness racing knows that the Burke family runs the largest harness racing entity on this world of ours. Although the horses generally run under the auspices of Ron Burke as trainer, there are many more people who play a part in its destiny and usually its success.
First, there is the Burke family, the entire family down from patriarch Mickey Burke, Sr. who oversees the breaking and initial training of the yearlings, both the homebreds and those purchased at various sales throughout North America.
A major component of the stable is Mark Weaver, the chief scout involved in the racing part of the operation, who secures its future stars through racehorses currently competing. There are of course, the other owners, many of whom have been with the stable for quite some time.
There was a time when the stable was almost totally composed of overnight horses, with a rare yearling being present in its roster. Although they are always on the lookout for a good racehorse to add to their ranks, these years most of their champions are, in effect, developed from the time when they are yearlings. They are the proverbial little acorns from which their stable’s mighty oaks are grown.
Note that this is more than just a roster. It also tells you where the Burkes got the horses and, in the case of those that were purchased at public auction, where and for how much.
Going through the roster of the present 2-year-olds, one finds a distinct geographical bias in the horses that they breed and buy. Of the 77 juveniles in training:
The stable is made up of 47 pacers and 33 trotters.
The pacers include 20 colts and 27 fillies.
The trotters are made up of 22 colts and 11 fillies.
Of the 20 pacing colts, seven are homebreds, with 13 having been purchased at Lexington (four), Harrisburg (six), Ohio Selected (two), and Hoosier Classic (one).
Of the pacing colts 11 are eligible to Pennsylvania Sires Stakes, five to Ohio, and one each to Indiana, New Jersey and Ontario.
The 27 pacing fillies are made up of six homebreds with 21 having been purchased at Lexington (11), Harrisburg (five), Ohio Selected (three), Buckeye Classic (one), and one at the Hoosier Classic.
Of the pacing fillies, 16 are eligible to Pennsylvania, six to Ohio, two to New York and one each to Indiana and New Jersey.
Of the 22 trotting colts six are homebreds, with 16 having been purchased at Lexington (six), Harrisburg (five), Ohio Selected (four) and one at the Hoosier Classic.
Of the trotting colts, 11 are eligible in Pennsylvania, five in Ohio, five in New Jersey and one in New York.
Of the 11 trotting fillies, two are homebreds, the other nine were purchased at Harrisburg (three), Ohio Selected (three), Buckeye Classic (two) and Lexington (one).
Of the trotting fillies six are eligible in Ohio, three in Pennsylvania and one each in New Jersey and Kentucky. This category presents an anomaly being the only one in which the leader is not in Pennsylvania breds. Pennsylvania is where the stable has its in season headquarters.
Many of the homebreds are made up of the issue of two of the stable’s greatest stars, the pacer Sweet Lou (seven) and the trotter Southwind Frank (four).
Here is the roster as presently constituted:
PACING COLTS
by BIT OF A LEGEND N
Rick Wink
Dam: McGrin N McBare It by McArdle. Purchased at Ohio Selected for $27,000.
by CAPTAINTREACHEROUS
Captain Rocknroll
Beautiful Lady by Rocknroll Hanover. Homebred
Hezthecaptain
Shezarealdeal by Western Ideal. Purchased for $70,000 at Harrisburg.
by CATTLEWASH
Tom Horn
Dancinwiththestarz by Four Starzzz Shark. Purchased at Lexington for $95,000.
by DANCIN LOU
TH Allowmetolead
Allow Me Hanover by Artspeak. Purchased at Harrisburg for $50,000.
by DOWNBYTHESEASIDE
Harrisburg Heist
Cashaway by Western Ideal. Homebred.
Rock’s Sand
Rock My Girl by Rocknroll Hanover. Homebred.
Swingtown
Swinging Beauty by Art Major. Purchased for $160,000 at Lexington.
by FEAR THE DRAGON
Oh Beach Please
Beach Club by Somebeachsomewhere. Purchased for $40,000 at Ohio Selected.
by JK ENDOFANERA
Hopeyaliketheshow
Don’t Forget by Well Said. Purchased for $100,000 at Hoosier Classic.
by PAPI ROB HANOVER
TH Colby
Fade by Shadow Play. Purchased at Harrisburg for $250,000.
Robbed By Force
Magic Forces by Art Major. Purchased at Lexington for $125,000.
by SWEET LOU
Lou’s Albano
Camille by Camluck. Homebred.
Gannon’s Veloucity
Continual Velocity by Real Artist. Homebred.
Lifestory Lou
Lifestory Hanover by Somebeachsomewhere. Purchased for $30,000 at Harrisburg.
Defiant Character
Riley Character by Shady Character. Homebred.
Railroad Station
Rodeo Rosie by Well Said. Purchased for $110,000 at Lexington.
Da Lou Ron Ron
Sassa Hanover by Rock N Roll Heaven. Homebred.
Hezthecaptain
Shezarealdeal by Western Ideal. Purchased for $70,000 at Harrisburg.
Waitingforguffman
Wait Til April by Dragon Again. Purchased for $55,000 at Harrisburg.
Totals — Pacing colts (21), homebreds (seven), purchased at public auction (13) for 1,202,000, for an average of $92,461.
PACING FILLIES
by ALL BETS OFF
Marmalade Skies
Helen Of Leda by Pro Bono Best. Purchased at Harrisburg for $30,000.
by ALWAYS B MIKI
Always Ana Hanover
Ana Hanover by Somebeachsomewhere. Purchased at Harrisburg for $100,000.
Blessed Hanover
Bettor B Lucky by Bettor’s Delight. Purchased at Harrisburg for $40,000.
Beaumont
Harpswell by Somebeachsomewhere. Purchased at Lexington for $95,000.
by CAPTAIN CRUNCH
Its Crunch Time
Meghan Lynn by American Ideal. Homebred.
by CAPTAINTREACHEROUS
Rodeo Drive Deo
Miss L A by Bettor’s Delight. Purchased for $170,000 at Lexington.
Palmetto Hanover
Pretty N Fast by Sweet Lou. Purchased for $90,000 at Harrisburg.
by CATTLEWASH
Beach Babe
Backstreet Sweetie by Dragon Again. Purchased for $85,000 at Lexington.
by DOWNBYTHESEASIDE
Rose Run Ashlee
Laurel’s Lea by Western Terror. Purchased for $140,000 at Ohio Selected.
Seaside Lover
Lover Of Art by Artsplace. Purchased for $80,000 at Lexington.
Sippinonsearoc
Queen Ann M by Big Bad John. Purchased for $77,000 at Lexington.
Sea Of Heartbreak
Your Beautiful by Your Nemesis. Purchased for $85,000 at Ohio Selected.
by HUNTSVILLE
Classy Patriot
Ideal Patriot by American Ideal. Purchased at Lexington for $70,000.
Shes A Streaker
Mikayla Rose by Ponder. Purchased for $80,000 at Harrisburg.
You Can Trust Me
Who Can You Trust by Art Major. Homebred.
by JK ENDOFANERA
JKs Summer Express
Tell Me Its Summer by Tellitlikeitis. Purchased at Hoosier Classic for $30,000.
by PAPI ROB HANOVER
Ava’s Remy
Baron Remy by Yankee Cruiser. Homebred.
Phantastic Deo
Full Picture by Artsplace. Purchased for $45,000 at Lexington.
Smile Happy
Weeper by Allamerican Native. Purchased for $120,000 at Lexington.
by SWEET LOU
Flouzzy
Fashion Fluzzy by Real Artist. Homebred.
Looksgoodinloulou
Looksgoodinaromper by Pet Rock. Homebred.
Sweet Ballad
Write Me A Song by Sportswriter. Homebred.
by TALL DARK STRANGER
Heather Michele
Alexis Faith by American Ideal. Purchased at Lexington for $225,000.
Bougie Hanover
Beyond Ecstasy by Somebeachsomewhere. Purchased at Lexington for $160,000.
Accede
Triple V Hanover by Somebeachsomewhere. Purchased at Lexington for $120,000.
by THE PANDEROSA
Zooma Rose
Artcam by Artsplace. Purchased at Buckeye Classic for $26,000.
by WELL SAID
The Word Is Out
Treacherous Secret by Captaintreacherous. Purchased at Ohio Selected for $24,000.
Totals — Pacing fillies (27), homebreds (six), purchased at public auction (21) for $1,892,000, for an average of $90,095.
TROTTING COLTS
by BAR HOPPING
Cheers Hanover
Chez Lucie by Malabar Man. Purchased at Harrisburg for $37,000.
Dogfish Hanover
Dancing Flames by Donato Hanover. Purchased at Harrisburg for $30,000.
Honolulu Hanover
Holtby Hanover by Cantab Hall. Purchased at Harrisburg for $20,000.
Messenger Hanover
Musetta Hanover by Cantab Hall. purchased at Harrisburg for $40,000.
by CANTAB HALL
Podico
Cali Ally by Muscle Hill. Purchased for $30,000 at Lexington.
by CHAPTER SEVEN
Blown Call
Wine Rack Hanover by Kadabra. Purchased at Lexington for $170,000.
by GREENSHOE
Big Shoes
Witty Girl by SJ’s Photo. Homebred.
by MUSCLE HILL
Hidalgo
Brooklyn by Conway Hall. Purchased at Harrisburg for $600,000.
Governor As It
Impinktoo by Manofmanymissions. Purchased at Lexington for $150,000.
Java Jukebox
Handover Belle by Andover Hall. Purchased at Lexington for $85,000.
by SOUTHWIND FRANK
All By Myself
Belgravia by Kadabra. Homebred.
Show It All
Expose Yourself by Kadabra. Homebred.
Party At Frank’s
Party At The Banks by Break The Bank K. Homebred.
Wembanyama
Unefoisdansmavie by Revenue S. Homebred.
by SWAN FOR ALL
Starlitfranknstein
A Southern Lily by Southwind Frank. Purchased for $12,000 at the Hoosier Classic.
by TACTICAL LANDING
Tactical Dynasty
Dynasty by Father Patrick. Purchased for $60,000 at Lexington.
by UNCLE PETER
Memory Vault
Thankful Reward by Yankee Glide. Purchased at Lexington for $40,000.
Oh Yes
Istara by Bar Hopping. Purchased at Ohio Selected for $40,000.
That Blu Me Away
Sand Lauren Blu by Muscle Hill. Purchased at Ohio Selected for $80,000.
by WHAT THE HILL
Bravo Hill
Bessie by Equinox Bi. Purchased for $75,000 at Ohio Selected.
Rose Run Alex
Dabrina by Kadabra. Purchased for $60,000 at Ohio Selected.
Seeyouatthelake
Panamera by Credit Winner. Homebred.
Totals — Trotting colts (22), homebreds (six), purchased at public auction (16) for $1,529,000, for an average of $95,562.
TROTTING FILLIES
by BAR HOPPING
Demarara Hanover
Dab Hanover by Donato Hanover. Purchased at Harrisburg for $85,000.
by FATHER PATRICK
Zeldy
Looking For Zelda by Break The Bank K. Purchased at Harrisburg for $18,000.
by GIMPANZEE
Kimpanzee
Kadena Reef – Kadabra. Homebred.
by GREENSHOE
Ms Prada
Asiago by Muscle Hill. Purchased at Lexington for $100,000.
by LONG TOM
Brink Street
Lucky Irish Babe by Cantab Hall. Purchased for $40,000 at Buckeye Classic.
Luv U Long Tom
Kota’s Swan by Swan For All. Purchased for $32,000 at Ohio Selected.
Rose Run Allison
Rose Run Timeless by Broadway Hall. Purchased for $105,000 at Ohio Selected.
by UNCLE PETER
Gone In A Flash
Action On Lavec by Mr Lavec. Purchased for $10,000 at Buckeye Classic.
by WALNER
Walner Maga Girl
Margarita Nights by Yankee Glide. Purchased for $150,000 at Harrisburg.
by WHAT THE HILL
Sarah Hill
Petey Sarah by Uncle Peter. Homebred.
Mocha Hill
Socha Hanover by Cantab Hall. Purchased for $47,000 at Ohio Selected.
Totals — Trotting fillies (11), homebreds (two), purchased at public auction (9) for $587,000, for an average of $65,222.