Jack C. Van Berg

Birthdate: June 7, 1936 

Died: Dec. 27, 2017

Birthplace: Colombus, Neb.

Career Record: More than 6,400 wins, more than $83-million in purse earnings

Honors: Eclipse Award as outstanding trainer, 1984; Racing Hall of Fame, 1985; Big Sport of Turfdom, 1987; Leading North American trainer by wins, nine times.  

Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg did not hesitate when asked the key to his success. In a 2014 interview, he immediately pointed to his late father, Marion, who is also enshrined at the Racing Hall of Fame.

“I had the best teacher in the world, my father,” said Van Berg. “That’s a huge advantage all the time."

Van Berg grew up in Nebraska and came to dominate racing in that state by becoming the leading trainer at Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha for 19 consecutive years (1959-77). He set a record for most victories in a single season with 496 in 1976, a mark since broken. He led all American trainers in victories nine times.

While his father worked primarily with low-level claiming horses, Van Berg was able to compete at the highest level. He won the Preakness Stakes in 1984 with Gate Dance and the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 1987 with Alysheba.