Hoosier Park Racing & Casino concluded its 2016 harness racing season with a 14-race card in front of a packed house on Saturday, November 12. In addition to the racing action, Ron Burke and Trace Tetrick were recognized as the leading trainer and driver, respectively.
Ron Burke, who secured his fifth consecutive and sixth leading trainer title at Hoosier Park, was officially recognized as the 2016 leading trainer of the season at Hoosier Park. The Burke barn had an impressive 89 trips to the winner’s circle and amassed over $2.6 million in purse earnings throughout the 160-day season. The Walter Haynes Jr. Stable finished second in the leading trainer standings with 71 trips to the Hoosier Park winner’s circle this season.
Burke, who in 2013 became the first trainer in the sport of harness racing to eclipse $20 million mark in a single season, campaigns a large stable of horses throughout the country. The sport’s leader in both wins and earnings in North America for the past seven seasons led the trainer standings at Hoosier Park from start to finish.
Jamie Macomber, Burke’s assistant trainer, oversees all training operations in Indiana and was present in the winner’s circle to accept the award from Jim Brown, Centaur Gaming’s president and chief operating officer, and Rick Moore, Hoosier Park’s vice president and general manager of racing.
“I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but it truly is a team effort,” Rucker noted. “We have a great team at the Burke Stable and that has made for a great year of racing. I know I speak on behalf of everyone involved with the Ron Burke Stable, it is always a pleasure racing at Hoosier Park. We had another great season this year, our team has worked hard all season and Ronnie [Burke] does a great job leading the way.”
In the driving ranks, Trace Tetrick, who is now the all-time leading driver in Hoosier Park history, earned his fifth leading driver title and third consecutive title at Hoosier Park this season. Tetrick scored 372 wins and earned over $3.6 million in purse earnings to secure the title over John DeLong, who finished second with 301 victories. Tetrick also earned a spot in Hoosier Park’s record books as he re-established his own record for most wins in one season, a record that he previously set in 2015 with 325 victories.
The Southern Illinois native started driving in 2003 and has since surpassed the $37 million mark in purse earnings in the bike. With multiple stakes wins to his credit, Tetrick is on track to record his best season to date in 2016 with over $5.4 million in purse earnings and counting. Tetrick is also closing in on career win 4,000.
“It’s certainly an honour and a great accomplishment,” Tetrick said in the winner’s circle after accepting the trophy from Rod Ratcliff, Centaur Gaming’s chairman and chief executive officer. “I would like to thank all the owners and trainers for the opportunity to drive great horses all season. It has been a great year and I really appreciate all the support from everyone. My family is the reason I am in the position I am in today, without them, none of this would be possible.”
The Saturday night program wrapped up an extremely successful season at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Hoosier Park Racing & Casino would like to thank all of the fans and horsemen who helped make the 2016 season at Hoosier Park an overwhelming success.
(Hoosier Park)