Dec 31, 2023 3 min read

By John Sacco

For the Observer-Reporter

Bythemissal, a 4-year-old pacer, and It’s Academic, a 6-year-old trotter, were named Friday as Dan Patch Award winners in their respective divisions.

Both aged horses are trained by Canonsburg resident Ron Burke. Both horses totaled nearly $1 million in earnings this year.

“It’s nice,” Burke said.

Bythemissal, a gelding, won the $600,000 Breeders Crown this year and captured 11 of 16 races. Bythemissal (Downbytheseaside-Dismissal) overcame an early-season illness that could have cost him his life.

“For Bythemissal to comeback like he did is impressive,” Burke said. “I’m proud of my owners who allowed me to take my time with him and bring him along slowly. I just wanted to take my time with him.

“He didn’t race as a 2-year-old and had a great 3-year-old season. I think we’ll see another improvement from him as a 5-year-old.”

Bythemissal was bred by Stephen Dey III and is

owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Fredericktown, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing and Weaver Bruscemi.

In 16 races, Bythemissal won 11 times, finished second twice and placed third once.The horse earned $984,666 with a mark of 1:47.1 at the Meadowlands.

Bythemissal’s other top wins included the $250,000 Aria Invitational; $138,500 Allerage; and $130,000 Sam McKee division.

It’s Academic, a stallion, (Uncle Peter-Annapolis) was bred by GBW Breeding Farms. He is owned by Brad Grant.

In 18 races, It’s Academic won eight times, placed second three times and third five times. He earned $951,911 and had a mark of 1:50.2 at the Meadowlands.

It’s Academic’s top wins were the $278,000 John Cashman; $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts; $222,500 Caesars Trotting Classic; and the $155,140 Crawford Farms.

“It’s Academic is just a good horse,” Burke said. “He had great 5- and 6-year-old seasons. There might be horses out there with more natural ability. But I don’t know if there’s a horse out there that does everything as well as him.”

Burke said both horses are currently turned out – Bythemissal in Kentucky and It’s Academic in North Carolina. Burke said both horses would probably return to the North Feb. 1.

He added Bythemissal will be stabled in New Jersey.

“He could come here (The Meadows) anytime,” Burke added. “He’ll mostly be in New Jersey. He competes at one-mile tracks and that’s what they have there. He’ll train there.”

Other divisional winners are three-year-old male pacer Confederate, three-year-old filly pacer Sylvia Hanover, 2-year-old male pacer Captain Albano, and 2-year-old female pacer Geocentric and aged female pacer Grace Hill.

Division-winning trotters were 2-year-old male Karl, 2-year-old female Soiree Hanover, 3-year-old male Tactical Approach, 3-year-old female Bond, and older female Jiggy Jog S.

Earlier this week it was announced that Aka Svanstedt was trainer of the year, while Scott Zeron was driver of the year.

The 12 division champions, trainer and driver of the year will be honored during the Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented Feb. 25 by Caesars Entertainment, at Rosen Centre in Orlando, Fla. Pacer of the Year, Trotter of the Year, and Horse of the Year will be announced at the banquet.

The Pacer and Trotter of the year and Horse of the Year will be named at that banquet. Confederate is the heavy favorite to be named Pacer and Horse of the Year.