Jan 2, 2024 By John Sacco 5 min read

That Ron Burke would have trained two aged Dan Patch Award winners in 2023 is not big news to Hall of Fame driver Yannick Gingras.

Both Bythemissal, a 4-year-old gelding pacer and It’s Academic, 6-year-old male trotter, were announced Friday as winners in their respective divisions.

In the case of Bythemissal, Burke – also a Hall of Fame conditioner — trained the remarkable pacer from an early-season illness that could have claimed the horse’s life.

Bythemissal bounced back and performed better than he ever had on his way to a Breeders Crown title and his first Dan Patch Award.

Both horses totaled nearly $1 million in earnings this year.

“It’s nice,” Burke said.

Gingras, who was Bythemissal’s driver for the majority of 2023, said Burke is especially strong training aged pacers and trotters.

“It is truly remarkable what Bythemissal was able to do,” Gingras said. “It’s a credit to Ronnie. He didn’t waste any time in getting Bythemissal the help he needed when he was ill. Ronnie was right on top of things. He not only saved Bythemissal’s life, but he was able to not only salvage his season but train him to a great season.

“I knew he was a great horse competing against in his 3-year-old season. He’s an even greater

horse than I thought he’d be.

“He has big lungs and is crazy fast. Bythemissal has all the ability in the world and he works. If he stays sound, Ron has a great reputation for keeping older horses sound and at a high level. Ronnie has a track record for keeping horses good for the long haul.”

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 come back 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.

The horse has career earnings of $2,153,591 and claimed victories in The Adios and Little Brown Jug as a 3-year-old. Bythemissal has 25 career wins.

It’s Academic has 30 career victories and has earned $2,311,223 in his lifetime.

“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.”

David Miller, It’s Academic’s primary driver, cannot praise the horse enough.

“I couldn’t be happier for It’s Academic,” Miller said. “The horse raced well all year.

“I agree with Ron, he’s such a versatile horse. He’s just a dream to drive. Barring he stays sound and is healthy coming back, It’s Academic could be the same horse next year. He got tired at the end of the year. He raced hard.”

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.

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.