By Bill Finley
According to a report on the website harnesslink.com, Standardbred trainers Ron Burke and Julie Miller have had horses test positive in New York for the Class 2 drug Glaucine.
The report says that New York regulators have long sought to develop a test for Glaucine, but have only recently done so. According to wikipedia.com, Glaucine increases “airway conductance” in humans and also has anti-inflammatory effects.
Burke and Miller are among the biggest names in harness racing. Burke is the top trainer in the sport in terms of wins and earnings and has been for several years. In 2015, his stable won 984 races and earned $24,944,164. Throughout his career, he has been known for improving horses that are turned over to him after racing for other trainers.
Miller is also a top trainer, but may be best known for her association with Meadowlands owner Jeff Gural. Her husband is prominent driver Andy Miller.
The news concerning the positives is likely to be embarrassing for Gural, who has waged a one-man fight to clean up harness racing, has thrown dozens of trainers out of the Meadowlands and has often said he deplores cheating and cheaters. Miller is his primary trainer and he is also the co-owner of a horse named Gural Hanover that is trained by Burke. Gural has yet to comment on the situation.
Gural also owns Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs and owns the New York-bred Thoroughbred Blue Beryl (Bernstein), who broke his maiden in July at Belmont Park.
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