Burke hoping to make the right calls Jonathan Burke, 15 year old son of trainer Liam Burke, is currently recovering from a fractured vertabra suffered in a fall recently and while he is eyeing a career as a jockey, has already gained experience as a commentator at a recent Horse & Pony race meeting. Burke fractured his C3 vertabra in a fall at a ‘flapping’ meeting at Ballybunion recently but had earlier in the day, commentated on four of the earlier races. Burke said “the horse I was riding, in a 1m4f maiden race for horses, stumbled and slipped up turning for home and I fractured my C3 vertabra in the fall. I am currently in a neck brace which I will have on for three months. I’ve no pain at the moment but it can be very uncomfortable at times - I’m getting used to the neck brace now though.” Regarding his commentaries, Burke said “earlier in the day, before my fall, I did commentaries for four earlier races and really enjoyed it.” “I used to practise commentating while I was riding out and Dessie Scahill and Jerry Hannon would be my influences. Some people say I sound like them - I’m not so sure, but it’s not a bad thing to be compared to them! It would be a something to fall back on if a career as a jockey doesn’t work out.” Burke, whose father Liam is a prominent trainer of point to pointers and jump horses, added “I turn 16 at Christmas and hope to get my jockeys’ license then. I’ve spent summers riding out in Gordon Elliott and and Willie Mullins’ yard and my first aim is to become a conditional jockey. I’ll start riding in bumpers first and see how things go.” “I’ve been horse & pony racing for three years now and have ridden ten winners in total, four this season.” Thomas Weekes
