When pacer Rip Tide steps onto the track on Wednesday, May 6 at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, the former $100,000 yearling will look to keep his streak intact. He has competed in two qualifying races and two pari-mutuel events, and has finished first all four times.
But his story is far more complicated than his record may appear. The son of Downbytheseaside-Sweet Chrome was purchased by the Ron Burke Stable from the Ohio Select Sale in 2022. He trained down well, qualified a winner on June 6, 2023, in 1:58.4 by nine lengths, then disappeared.
“We had high expectations for him at two,” said Mickey Burke Jr., second trainer for the family stable. “But after that qualifier, the horse just decided he didn’t want to do anything. We couldn’t get him to function on the track. No lameness issues, nothing like that. He just didn’t want to go.”
So the family patriarch, Mickey Burke Sr., decided that the horse needed a road trip, literally. He reached out to a connection in the Amish community, took the horse out near Apple Creek, Ohio, and gave instructions for the family to just use him as a road horse until Rip Tide seemed ready to return to the track.
“Unfortunately,” said Burke Jr., “before the horse was ready to return, my father passed away [in May of 2024]. He had taken the horse to Ohio himself and he was the only one that knew who had the horse. We had no idea where Rip Tide was.”
More than two and a half years passed from the time the horse was sent to Ohio until Burke Jr. received a call in January of 2026.
“The Amish gentleman knew what the plan was and was expecting to hear from us. When no one ever contacted him, he eventually reached out and found me.”
Burke Jr. added, “I honestly had completely forgotten about the horse. I called my brother Ronnie, and he instantly said, ‘Go get him!’”
Three months later, Rip Tide won a qualifier at The Meadows in 1:55.4 on April 7, 2026, then won his first pari-mutuel start in 1:54.2 on April 15, with Burke Jr. making a rare driving start.
“I was literally the only person that has trained, schooled or qualified him since he came back,” said Burke Jr. “Ronnie said, ‘You know him, so you drive him.’ The first start, I would’ve ducked him but someone else broke, so I was left on the front and it worked out.”
Last week, Ronnie Wrenn Jr. was in the bike and, once again, some confusion in the first turn led to Rip Tide going to the front. He cut the half in :54.3 and three-quarters in 1:23.3 over the sloppy track, before showing some greenness until challenged late. The now five-year-old still won, lowering his lifetime mark to 1:53.4.
“He’s still not the most willing participant," said Burke Jr. “We have to tow him to train him and some days he’ll go and run over the guy in front of him. So far in races, he gets aggressive, but we’re nothing but pleased with him. As long as he’s going forward, we’re happy.”
Rip Tide, owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, R A S Racing and Weaver Bruscemi, will leave from post six in Wednesday afternoon’s 12th race at The Meadows, for non-winners of two races or $17,500 USD lifetime. Post time for the first of 13 races is 12:45 p.m.
(The Meadows; photo of Rip Tide winning on April 15, 2026 at The Meadows)