Hoosier Park Racing & Casino concluded the 2014 harness racing season with a 14-race card in front of a packed house on Saturday, November 15. In addition to the racing action, Trace Tetrick and Ron Burke secured leading driver and trainer titles, respectively.
Ron Burke, who took home Hoosier Park’s top training honours in 2013, was officially recognized as the 2014 leading trainer of the season at Hoosier Park. The Burke barn had an impressive 112 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 trainer standings with 80 trips to 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 six seasons romped to his third straight Hoosier Park training title this season.
Jamie Rucker, 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.
“This was definitely a team effort from the owners, trainers, horses, grooms, and everyone in between,” 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 when I say it is always a pleasure racing at Hoosier Park. We had another great season this year and it has been a lot of fun to be a part of.”
In the driving ranks, Trace Tetrick, who led the driver standings from start to finish, earned his third leading driver title at Hoosier Park in 2014. Tetrick scored 289 wins and earned over $3.6 million in purse earnings to secure the title over last year’s leading driver, Tyler Smith, who finished second with 241 victories. Tetrick also earned a spot in Hoosier Park’s record books as he re-established the record for most wins in one season, a record that was previously held by Tony Morgan during the 1998 season with 262 victories.
The Southern Illinois native started driving in 2003 and has since surpassed the $25 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 2014 with over $4.5 million in purse earnings and counting. Tetrick is also closing in on career win 3,000.
“I would like to thank all the owners and trainers for the opportunity to drive great horses all season,” Tetrick noted in the winner’s circle. “It’s been a great year and I really appreciate all the support from everyone. I had a lot of nice horses to drive this year and it has been a great year for me, I really appreciate it.”
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 2014 season at Hoosier Park an overwhelming success.
(Hoosier Park)