Monday 5 June 2023

Trainer Nigel Burke and a red hot start to his Woodbine season.

 The great sport of horse racing provides the thrills and also disappointment that comes along with it.  Fortunately for Nigel Burke his early success at Woodbine this year has provided him some relief going into the summer. When you have a small barn the room for error is calculated on a different level, much greater than a huge stable with a huge outfit and plenty of opportunity to make up the losses.

Trainer Nigel Burke / photo by Barn and track


Trainer Nigel Burke comes from a family of horse people which balances on both mom and dad's side of the family.  His involvement and experience as a horseman have helped him to be ready for the good times and also the letdowns which come with the sport.  I spoke with Nigel earlier in the spring to hear his thoughts on this season at Woodbine and to hear a bit more about him as a horseman.

Last year at Woodbine was his best year with purse winnings as a trainer so I asked him about that when I last spoke with him.  To hear more about the conversation you can click the link from Behind the Scenes.



Rockcrest who is the six-year-old son of Old Forester has been the trainer's best horse in the stable providing earnings of $397,042 to date.  Rockcrest now has won two of three races this year with the losing race at Tampa Bay Downs in the Turf Dash Stakes.

His latest victory was in the Pink Lloyd Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack going six furlongs on the all-weather surface.  Regular rider Keveh Nicholl's was in the saddle for this victory making it his first-ever stake win at Woodbine.


Nigel Burke Racing Stable so far this year at Woodbine.




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