Positive

[kooter for hipin]

Did they bring in Stewie the Kid Ungar to gaslight Herve in Gin? Timing seems about right and the teenage kid was the best gin player in the world.

Absolutely without doubt the best. Stewie is an icon and he was also the best hold'em player of his time. Another victim of drugs.       

[Yonkers1A]

That is no excuse.. I don't care if he has horses  at every harness track in the country.. and if he doesn't see some horses for months than why is he listed as the trainer? He is the CEO of a major operation and the buck stops with him. He will serve his suspension this winter as usual and grass is green and the sky is blue and the beat goes on. It's ridiculous. If you can't be everywhere because how big your operation is than cut down your stock... but he won't do that and why would he? Countless positives and still rakes in millions. It's sickening.

Post of the year

[The Unstable]

The man has horses stabled at 4 different racetracks and at least one training center. He may not see some of his horses for months at a time. He gets blamed because he's the trainer of record.

The trainer of record doesn't see most of them for months you say and somehow they all get better.  please explain that away. suspension coming over Christmas. 

[gh2009]

If you want to know, have the balls to ask Ron Burke yourself!

[The Unstable]

If you want to know, have the balls to ask Ron Burke yourself!

You were quick to say he only gets blamed because he is the trainer of record but never sees them. I asked if he never sees them and he is the trainer how most of them get better. The easiest explanation to me would be pain killer which gabopentin is. This makes more sense then being told he trains them hard and they improve after one week when he never sits behind them. This has been my thought for years and yet I may be very wrong because honestly know one knows how he does so well as one cannot discount the stock he buys.

What I do know if you get a positive for gabopentin which is a nerve pain killer in levels that are theraputic you deserve a suspension.  if you have multiples that is really a red flag. 

[Kirbys Ace]

Gabapentin isn't shit..I have used it for neuropathy foot nerve pain and did absolutely nothing for me.

[gh2009]

None of us knows exactly what he does or doesn't do. If his horses have a positive test, he takes the blame regardless of the circumstances or where it happened. Naturally he appeals it so he can ultimately serve his suspension at his convenience.

[The Unstable]

Gabapentin isn't shit..I have used it for neuropathy foot nerve pain and did absolutely nothing for me.

Your personal experince is not quite a scientific study .https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2024/10/01/gabapentin-used-for-side-effects/75220690007/

This article is 2 days old.  Here is a quote for those who don't want to read the article.

Dr. Holly Geyer, an addiction medicine specialist and the lead physician of the Mayo Clinic opioid stewardship program in Arizona, explains that in an effort to help combat opioid-related drug abuse, many doctors have been turning to a class of drugs that isn't classified as a controlled substance: gabapentinoids."

"Known off-label uses where doctors prescribe gabapentin include as a treatment for hot flashes, restless leg syndrome, mood disorders, anxiety, and to diminish nerve pain related to diabetes or the neck and back pain associated with conditions such as sciatica." 

[kooter for hipin]

Gabapentin isn't shit..I have used it for neuropathy foot nerve pain and did absolutely nothing for me.

  Same problem, same result.   

[Grandstand Handicapper]

I am not a fan of Ron Burke. Never have been. I knew Mickey long before Ron was in the business. From a business or operational perspective, I admire and respect his administrative, managerial, etc., capabilities. Having the ability to head up and run such as massive operation is impressive to me. But that's just me.

Do I think he's a saint? No. Do I think he's running on hay, oats, and water? No. But neither is anyone else, LOL. Does that mean he's just doing it better? Well, "it" is cheating, and let's not forget that. Do they have something better? I do think one contributory factor to their success is that they have 3 or 4 horses for virtually every class on the condition sheet at three, four, or five tracks. Sheer size, depth, scope. I think another factor is that they can race $20,000 horses for $10,000. Again, has to do with size, in this case, diversification and large numbers. They used to shoot exceptionally well at most tracks, and very well at others. I am sure they still do, but I follow them far less, usually only looking to bet against the favorite.

This is not about Burke. However, what I don't like is the perceived or real preferential treatment because track management is short-sighted. This belief that tracks "need" him to fill races is a myth. I am not disputing that he fills races. But "need" is perception and it's a myth. Take any track where a major barn is drug trainer and the race secretary begs management to give him stalls and let him race there. Short-sighted. Makes your job easier. Great. I don't give a $h!t about making your job easier. What they don't understand is that if you throw that guy out, it might hurt for a week or two, maybe three. But when people here that guy is gone, you will have more owners, trainers, and horses showing up because he's gone. And instead of having 4 horses for the same class from the same barn, you'll eventually have 4 horses from 4 different barns. In the end you will be far better off. But, short-sighted BS thinking from people who don't know how to run a track. LOL.

That said, to the point of Burke and a positive test. In the event of a positive, he doesn't get "blamed" as the trainer of record. He is responsible because he is the trainer of record. That's the rule. It's his choice to run his operation the way he does. Nobody forced him to. You choose, and you abide by the rules. At least the one's they can enforce, LOL.

[Any1Left]

vERY WELL SAID GRANDSTAND,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[gh2009]

I don't like to bring politics into it but in my opinion the President of the United States gets blamed for everything even though he has nothing to do with most of it. For example, when there was a baby formula shortage, they blamed him, now tell me, wtf the President has to do with the production of baby formula, yet millions of people think it's his fault because the political pundits and haters put it out there.

[The Unstable]

I don't like to bring politics into it but in my opinion the President of the United States gets blamed for everything even though he has nothing to do with most of it. For example, when there was a baby formula shortage, they blamed him, now tell me, wtf the President has to do with the production of baby formula, yet millions of people think it's his fault because the political pundits and haters put it out there.

I agree many Presidents get blamed for the price of gas which is not generally not in their control and undeserved.

Trainers use gas or whatever that is within their control!!!  If they get caught they deserve the blame.   That does not mean there are not accidental positives.  But there has to also be some rules, accountibility and enforcement. 

[seen2much]

The amount of recent positives is no small deal. Does anyone think second trainers or Vets are administering illegal drugs on their own? I say no, hell no, & Burke is behind it all.
A big reason Burke has many in high classes is the magical improvements...in my opinion.

[JT]

Post of the year

Thanks Yonkers! It just gets old and it's the same thing year after year, he will get a nice 2 week "vacation " in January.  Grandstand made a great point about the race secretaries and the fear if he is suspended to long their races won't fill.. that is a myth.The only way to clean up the mess is to make an example of him. If Baffert can be banned from Churchill Downs for over a year and not be allowed to race in the Derby, then the USTA powers that be can and should bring the hammer down on him. If they did that just once then other trainers might think twice about doping.