Long-time trainer Pat McBurney, a fixture at Monmouth Park for more than four decades and the current president of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, has been named the 2023 recipient of the Virgil “Buddy” Raines Distinguished Achievement Award.
The Raines Award, currently in its 28th year, is presented annually just prior to Monmouth Park’s season opener. The track’s 78th season of live racing gets underway on Saturday, May 13.
“It’s a tremendous honor to receive this award because of what it means to thoroughbred racing in New Jersey,” said McBurney. “It’s an impressive list of past recipients so it’s a great honor to join them.”
McBurney, who spent the first half of his career as an assistant to the late John Forbes (the 2006 Raines Award winner), went out on his own full-time as a trainer in 2007. He saddled his first winner on May 13, 2007 when Cable Boy won at Monmouth Park.
“Pat’s tireless efforts on behalf of New Jersey horsemen and racing in general in the state, and his success as a trainer, make him a worthy recipient of this year’s Buddy Raines Award,” said Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, the operators of Monmouth Park. “It’s a fitting honor for someone who has done so much to promote thoroughbred racing in New Jersey.”
McBurney has won 333 races overall, with the versatile Golden Brown and Just Call Kenny– both Grade III winners–being his top runners.
McBurney, who resides in Fair Haven, New Jersey, will have nearly three dozen horses stabled at Monmouth Park this summer in anticipation of the 51-day meet.
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