Michael Burns has jokingly been referred to as “Karsh of the Backstretch”, as he has photographed the likes of Northern Dancer, Sunny’s Halo, Secretariat and countless other thoroughbreds.

For over forty years he has been the official photographer for the Ontario Jockey Club. He has several awards from the Professional Photographers Association of Canada, and has won an unprecedented five Sovereign Awards for excellence in thoroughbred racing photography.

Michael is the only Canadian photographer to have won the Eclipse Award twice. He was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Residing in Etobicoke for more than thirty years, Michael Burns is regarded as one of Canada’s finest sports photographers, covering all major sporting events including Kentucky Derbies, Breeder’s Cup Extravaganzas, World Cup skiing, World Cup curling, championship boxing, Olympic and Commonwealth games, and National Hockey League games, for more than fifty years.