Ron Burke’s Quest for the Grand Sweep at Woodbine Mohawk Park
At 8h26, on August 30, 2025 • By Laurent Sauvé
Saturday night, the harness racing world converges on Woodbine Mohawk Park, where two glittering prizes—the Canadian Pacing Derby and the Maple Leaf Trot—promise to light up the track. At the center of it all stands Ron Burke, a man whose very name evokes broken records, relentless ambition, and the art of turning the impossible into routine. This weekend, he’s aiming to etch his mark once more—by sweeping both of the sport’s crown jewels in a single night.
Burke’s résumé is already the stuff of legend: over 16,000 wins, nearly $380 million in earnings, and a stable that runs with the precision of a well-oiled engine. His empire may have been forged on U.S. soil, but Burke embraces every trip north to Mohawk—Canada’s cathedral of trotters and pacers—as if it were a pilgrimage.
The headliner is Bythemissal, a horse teetering on the edge of another milestone: $3 million in earnings. Fresh off a breathtaking 1:46.4 elimination mile, the son of Downbytheseaside has the kind of presence that commands respect. With Yannick Gingras guiding him, Bythemissal is the 7-5 morning-line favorite—a star poised to shine even brighter under the Mohawk lights.
But Burke’s ambitions stretch further. Enter Lexus Kody, the son of Archangel, who shocked rivals with a gutsy 1:51 elimination win. Courage has always been his calling card, but now he faces the Everest of challenges: Aetos Kronos S, the Swedish marvel who just rewrote history. In a performance that will be talked about for years, Aetos Kronos S shattered the 1:50 barrier with a dazzling 1:49.4 mile, guided by Dexter Dunn. On the morning line, Lexus Kody sits at 5-1, just behind the towering favorites Aetos Kronos S (9-5) and Periculum (2-1).
To sweep both the Canadian Pacing Derby and the Maple Leaf Trot in one evening would be nothing short of extraordinary—a feat so rare it borders on myth. Yet Ron Burke thrives on chasing the improbable. For him, this isn’t simply about trophies. It’s about sending a message—that even in the unforgiving, glory-fueled world of harness racing, he remains the undisputed master.
First post for Saturday’s 12-race program: 6:35 p.m.
