Karl Burke's Biography

Born on 17 May 1963 in Rugby, Karl Burke became famous for training horses at Spigot Lodge, Middleham.

Burke got his trainer's license in 1990. His big race wins include The Ayr Gold Cup with Daring Destiny in 1994 and the same race with Always Alight in 1998.

On July 3 2006, City of London Police confirmed that 17 of the 28 people who answered bail in the case relating to allegations of fixing the outcome of horse races between 1 Dec 2002 and 2 September 2004, had been released. Karl Burke was one of those on bail, who were released without facing charges.

In February 2007, Sir Mark Prescott wrote regarding The FightTheBan Partnership horse The Little Fizzer: "She will be handled by top class two-year-old trainer Karl Burke from Middleham in North Yorkshire."

On 20 July 2009, Sporting Life reported that Karl Burke intended to appeal after being disqualified for 12 months after a British Horseracing Authority inquiry into alleged race-fixing.

When the ban was finished, it was Karl's wife Elaine who gained a licence to train. Elaine together with Karl and their two daughters work out of Spigot Lodge. Their owners include footballers Wayne Rooney and John O'Shea.