Hall of Fame Trainer Jack Van Berg Passes Away

Jack Van Berg | Coady Photography

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Eclipse Award-winner Jack Van Berg, who trained the brilliant Alysheba and joined his father, Marion, in the Hall of Fame, died Wednesday morning in a hospital in Little Rock, Ark. He was 81.

His death was confirmed by Oaklawn Park spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyt.

During his long, distinguished career, Van Berg reached heights in both quality and quantity. Alysheba, the 1988 Horse of the Year and the racing's top-earning Thoroughbred when he retired, was the greatest of the many standouts Van Berg handled. He was the first trainer to have 5,000 winners–a mark he reached on July 15, 1987 at Arlington Park with Art's Chandelle–and ranks fourth in career victories, with 6,523.

Among the prominent horsemen to work for Van Berg's operation are Hall of Fame member Bill Mott, Frank Brothers, Wayne Catalano, Al Stall and Tom Amoss.

“It's a sad day for racing,” Brothers said when reached for comment Wednesday. “In my mind, he's probably one of the best horseman of our time. He was a tough guy, a big cowboy, but he had a heart of gold. He was always there to help somebody.”

Van Berg was born on June 7, 1936 in Columbus, Neb. At the age of 49 in 1985–two years before Alysheba won the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S.–he was elected to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame In Saratoga Springs, N.Y. That honor came 15 years after his late father was inducted. At the time of his death, Van Berg was the longest-tenured trainer in the Hall of Fame.

When he joined the sport's all-timers, Van Berg said: “Induction into the Hall of Fame is the greatest honor that racing can offer. To be recognized by racing men throughout the country is what trainers dream about when they start their careers. The greatest influence on my career was, of course, my father, as good a horseman as ever lived, and it makes me doubly proud that I have followed him in the Hall of Fame.”

Marion Van Berg, who died in 1971, was a standout trainer and owner. He led or shared the title for most wins by an owner in a season 14 times between 1952 and 1970. He led in purse money won by an owner four times. The final three of those leading owner titles 1968-1970, came while his son was training the stable and emerging as a national force. Jack Van Berg was the leading trainer in victories in a season nine times between between 1968 and 1986. In 1976, he won a record 496 races, a mark that stood until 2004 when it was eclipsed by Steve Asmussen's 555 wins.

Van Berg began working for his father as an 8-year-old and trained horses in his own name for approximately 65 years. Equibase stats show that he began with 10 starts in 1957. However, other biographies say he had his trainer's license when he was 16 and that he won his first stakes race–the George Brandeis H. at Ak-Sar-Ben–with Dagahza in the mid-1950s. In 2017, he won with 42 of 269 starters. His final victory was with Star Dog on Nov. 17 at Churchill Downs. His last graded stakes win came in 1995.

Alysheba won 11 of 26 starts in a three-year career and retired following his victory in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Classic with a then-record $6,679,242 in earnings. He was the 3-year-old male champion of 1987 when he won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Super Derby and was fourth in the his bid for the Triple Crown in the GI Belmont S. Alysheba won a total of nine Grade I races. He was third in the 1986 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, was second by a nose to Ferdinand in the 1987 Classic and provided Van Berg with his Breeders' Cup victory in the '88 Classic. In addition to the 1988 Horse of the Year title, he was the champion older male for winning seven of nine starts.

“I'll always remember his dedication to the welfare of the horse,” Chris McCarron, regular pilot of Alysheba, told TDN. “He was not easy to work for. He was a strict mentor. He demanded as much from everybody who worked for him that he put into the job himself, which was a lot of hours and hard work. He could do everything: float teeth, correctively shoe a horse. He knew a horse from the inside out. He was the all-around consummate horseman. He was very conscientious.”

The son of Alydar out of Bel Sheba was owned by the Scharbauer family and became an incredibly popular runner. Before the decision to retire him to stud was finalized, Van Berg said he “was going to talk awfully hard in favor” of keeping him in training for another season. “Losing him, would be like losing your leg,” Van Berg said.

After the victory in the 1988 Classic at Churchill Downs, Van Berg said. “I don't know how many people they had here today,” but they were all hollering for him. They had a sign out there, 'Alysheba for President!' He's got my vote, I can tell you that. He's done so much. He's traveled everywhere we're asked him to go–one end of the United States to the other–and he gives it his best effort every time.”

Alysheba clipped heels with Bet Twice, stumbled badly and came close to going down near the three-sixteenths pole of the Derby. Jockey Chris McCarron got him back on his feet and running again and he won by three-quarters of a length over Bet Twice. Van Berg wept and after composing himself said. “I don't remember ever feeling this way before.” Later, Van Berg said: “Had tears in my eyes after the race. Like some little girl. And I lost my voice. First time in my life I was speechless. This is awfully hard, to get a horse ready for the first Saturday in May. Horses are like tomatoes. They spoil easily. That's why I broke down. There's no greater feeling.”

Preakness winner Gate Dancer helped carry Van Berg to the 1984 Eclipse Award. During that season, Gate Dancer also won the GI Super Derby and GIII Ak-Sar-Ben Omaha Gold Cup. Gate Dancer also finished second by a head to Wild Again and was DQ'd to third in the inaugural running of the Breeders' Cup Classic. It was the start of a frustrating run in the Classic–Gate Dancer was second by a head to Proud Truth in '85 and Alysheba was a nose loser in 1987–prior to Alysheba's win by a half-length over Seeking the Gold in 1988.

Van Berg's Bold Ego was second in the 1981 Preakness and Blumin Affair was third in the 1994 Kentucky Derby. Other top horses he trained were Grade I winners Vilzak and Fit to Scout and Grade II winners Herat , Bold Style, Alysbelle, Beyond Perfection and French Seventyfive.

Van Berg is survived by a son, trainer, Tom Van Berg, and three daughters, Tori, Tammy and Traci. He was predeceased earlier this year by another son, trainer Tim Van Berg. Funeral services are pending.

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