The Burke Stable

[Fuguzzi]

remember too, soon after retiring Frank opened an Italian restaurant lower Manhattan, That takes cash. Heard it was good - catered to wiseguys, tourists and locals.

[rainman2]

i believe you. Frank Popfinger once told me as a young kid. If you dont make twice as much gambling as your horse earns racing youll go broke in this business. And nobody did better than Frank betting his own money. I could tell you stories you literally would not believe about frank.

Back in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, you could make some good money at the windows if you were very shrewd conductors. 2023 is completely different. Try betting any real money into the pools of Plainridge, Pocono, Yonkers, et al. Any 10 dollar + bet disrupts pools and you’ll step on your own $$$!  Assuming you succeed, getting a measly $ 3000 pool if you’re likely after takeouts!!  Get a bookie??  Get caught and have more potential problems??  Think about it!

[JIDGE]

Anyone have an experience or know of someone who bought or claimed off of Burke?

[Balmoral buzz]

I just looked up Burke's stats. Through today he has 3825 starts with 854 wins. They are making bank.

Not possible. Show me results of anything that paid serious money. Anytime Burke wins he is usually under $7. Like I said show me a gambler on harness racing and I’ll show you a big time loser in the long run. They can’t make any kind of a big score unless they are 3/5 and bet against themselves and they’re not stupid. They ain’t risking their investment as owners fir $5k trifecta score. It’s not happening pal.

[Fuguzzi]

Well Frank never envisioned a racing world where there wasnt 1 -2 million bet nightly everywhere, but I think you understand wht he was trying to tell a young wanna be like me back in the day

[MIKE CAMPBELL]

Not possible. Show+ e results of anything that paid serious money. Anytime Burke wins he is usually under $7. Like I said show me a gambler on harness racing and I’ll show you a big time loser in the long run. They can’t make any kind of a big score unless they are 3/5 and bet against themselves and they’re not stupid. They ain’t risking their investment as owners fir $5k trifecta score. It’s not happening pal.

Believe what you want. Their horses are racing at 5 or 6 tracks every day. Minor scores will add up.

[Balmoral buzz]

Believe what you want. Their horses are racing at 5 or 6 tracks every day. Minor scores will add up.

I know Mark personally. He bets like $50 and that’s only when he’s 4/5. Not happening at the windows pal. They make bank on the ownership side.

[MIKE CAMPBELL]

I know Mark personally. He bets like $50 and that’s only when he’s 4/5. Not happening at the windows pal. They make bank on the ownership side.

Like I said, believe what you want. When you are racing and winning with that many horses, even if you are wagering minimally, it adds up and in most cases, tax free.

[Harness Stats]

Anyone have an experience or know of someone who bought or claimed off of Burke?

Many horses have a good racing career after Burke.  Somewhere in L.A. made a lot of money after Burke who got him from MacIntosh in Canada.  Winning Shadow won a ton of races for Burke and after still won over 10 a year.  Right now Backstreet Shadow is a Burke "castoff" after 2 trainers previously and in the form of his life. 

Burke is very well known for getting nickle breds especially trotters, and turning them into money earners consistently.

[theokodjak26]

And Burke has had a couple of positives in the last year. Even Burke looks for an edge here and there.

[Locked in with pace]

Sweet Lou will keep him very wealthy for many years to come.  Being a top US sire and now breeding overseas with unlimited bookings puts millions in his pocket.

[Par Four]

His trainers share is all gravy.

[Harness Stats]

Weren't Covered Bridge and Backstreet Shadow trained by Burke last year?

Covered Bridge started off with Okusko, went to Blake MacIntosh, then in 2020 through 9/9 2022 he was with Burke. He sold him to Ford after a win that date, Ford won with him first start and as we know he is arguably the best pacer on a half mile track this year, so definitely life after Burke on him.

As I mentioned a couple of responses earlier Backstreet Shadow was with Burke for a couple of years and has plenty of life now.

[Mailbox Money]

His trainers share is all gravy.

5% of 23 million ain't no chicken scratch, that's for sure!

[okdfool]

Looking at the numbers, guestimating the expenses I can and bolstered by his ownership in so many of his horses, I would guess he keeps at least a million a year net net for himself.

Yep, he definitely steals more then he spends