Karl Burke

Karl Burke (born May 1963) is a British racehorse trainer based in Middleham in North Yorkshire.

Background Burke was born in Rugby to Irish parents who were a nurse and a publican. He grew up over pubs in the town and started riding as a child. His interest in racing developed from watching it with his father. Aged 16, he went to trainer Hugh O’Neill's yard in Surrey for a holiday job and stayed on as an apprentice. He then moved to the yard of Alan Jarvis near Coventry and rode a few winners on the flat before switching to jumps on account of his weight. After marrying Jarvis's daughter, Elaine, Burke set up a livery yard near Newark.

Training career Burke took up a training licence in 1990 and rented stables in Wantage and then Newmarket. In 2000, Burke moved to Spigot Lodge yard near Middleham. The move to North Yorkshire cost Burke some of his owners, who preferred to keep their horses in the south of the country, and it was several years before he saddled another group winner, Philario in the 2007 Group 3 Sirenia Stakes. He lost an appeal against his disqualification. While Burke was banned from training, his father-in-law, Alan Jarvis, initially took over the yard and then his few remaining horses were sent to a neighbouring yard to be trained by John Weymes with Burke's wife Elaine as assistant trainer. When the ban was up, Elaine was granted a licence to train at Spigot Lodge with Karl as her assistant. In 2024, Burke saw his most successful year in terms of winners and prize money in Britain, with 121 winners and £4,029,418 prize money.

In 2023, Burke underwent surgery and chemotherapy for bowel cancer.

Major wins Great Britain British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes - (1) - Poptronic (2023) Commonwealth Cup - (2) - Quiet Reflection (2016), Venetian Sun (2026) Fillies' Mile - (1) - Laurens (2017) Flying Five Stakes - (1) - Havana Grey (2018) Haydock Sprint Cup - (1) - Quiet Reflection (2016) Sun Chariot Stakes - (2) - Laurens (2018), Fallen Angel (2025)

France Prix de Diane - (1) - Laurens (2018) Prix Jean Prat - (1) - Lord Shanakill (2009) Prix Jean Romanet - (1) - Odeliz (2015) Prix Morny - (2) - Unfortunately (2017), Venetian Sun (2025) Prix Rothschild - (2) - Laurens (2019), Fallen Angel (2025) Prix Saint-Alary - (1) - Laurens (2018)

Ireland Irish 1,000 Guineas - (1) - Fallen Angel (2024) Matron Stakes (Ireland) - (2) - Laurens (2018), Fallen Angel (2025) Moyglare Stud Stakes - (1) - Fallen Angel (2023)

Italy Premio Lydia Tesio - (1) - Odeliz (2015)