Trainer Jack Van Berg

Born: 6/7/36, Columbus, Nebraska  Resides: Hespera, California  Family: Tammy, Tori And Tracy, daughters; Tim and Tom, sons

A legendary trainer, Jack Van Berg has returned to Oaklawn this year with a stable of approximately 24 runners.

Van Berg has accomplished about all a trainer can in one career; from repeated national titles to winning a Kentucky Derby, to developing a horse-of-the-year and former all-time money earning thoroughbred.

In 1985, the Nebraskan was inducted the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame at Saratoga.

Understandably, of all his "moments" in horse racing, the one to excite him the most was winning the 1987 Kentucky Derby with Alysheba. The next season, Alysheba won horse-of-the-year honors and was retired with a then world record $6,679,242 in earnings.

Nine times he has led the nation in number of wins. In1976, he established a record for the most wins in a year with 496. He was voted the 1984 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer and in 1987 he received the Big Sport of Turfdom Award. He is also an inductee of the Nebraska Racing Hall of Faame.

On July 15, 1987, Jack became the first trainer to win 5,000 races when he sent out Art's Chandelle to victory at Arlington Park.

Jack has won six of the stakes in the Racing Festival of the South. Twice he has captured Oaklawn training crowns.