Hall of Fame Thoroughbred Trainer, Breeder. In a career that spanned fifty-six years, he trained or bred champion racehorses such as Atalanta, Bold, George Smith, Greek Ship, Firethorn, Flower Bowl and Sailor II among many others. When he retired in 1957, his horses had won a total of 1, 236 races which included such prestigious races as the Excelsior Handicap, the Yorktown Handicap, the King Edward Cup Handicap, the Withers Stakes, the Lawrence Realization Stakes, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Matron Stakes, the Alabama Stakes, the Schuylerville Stakes, the Louisiana Derby, the Florida Derby and many more. Throughout his career he was honored in many ways. In 1950, he was given the United States Champion Trainer award and in 1953, Blood-Horse Publications published his book titled "Training Thoroughbred Horses". He was inducted into the United States Racing Hall of Fame in 1963 and in 1973 was the honored guest at the annual Testimonial Dinner given by the Thoroughbred Club of America. The "Preston M. Burch Handicap" was named for him and took place each year at the Bowie Race Course until a fire destroyed the track in 1966. He was a founding member of the American Trainers Association and had the honor of being elected its first president in which he served in this capacity for seven years. After he passed away at the age of 93, he was posthumously honored when author Edward L. Bowen named him in his book "Masters of the Turf: Ten Trainers Who Dominated Horse Racing's Golden Age".
Hall of Fame Thoroughbred Trainer, Breeder. In a career that spanned fifty-six years, he trained or bred champion racehorses such as Atalanta, Bold, George Smith, Greek Ship, Firethorn, Flower Bowl and Sailor II among many others. When he retired in 1957, his horses had won a total of 1, 236 races which included such prestigious races as the Excelsior Handicap, the Yorktown Handicap, the King Edward Cup Handicap, the Withers Stakes, the Lawrence Realization Stakes, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Matron Stakes, the Alabama Stakes, the Schuylerville Stakes, the Louisiana Derby, the Florida Derby and many more. Throughout his career he was honored in many ways. In 1950, he was given the United States Champion Trainer award and in 1953, Blood-Horse Publications published his book titled "Training Thoroughbred Horses". He was inducted into the United States Racing Hall of Fame in 1963 and in 1973 was the honored guest at the annual Testimonial Dinner given by the Thoroughbred Club of America. The "Preston M. Burch Handicap" was named for him and took place each year at the Bowie Race Course until a fire destroyed the track in 1966. He was a founding member of the American Trainers Association and had the honor of being elected its first president in which he served in this capacity for seven years. After he passed away at the age of 93, he was posthumously honored when author Edward L. Bowen named him in his book "Masters of the Turf: Ten Trainers Who Dominated Horse Racing's Golden Age".
Bio by: Whispers From The Grave
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