Jack Van Berg's son, Tom, seeks his own Kentucky Derby legacy

Following in the footsteps of a legend, especially one with an almost immortal, larger-than-life status like Jack Van Berg, was never the goal for his son. Tom Van Berg, a kid from Columbus Nebraska, has made a reluctant return to take over for his Hall of Fame father after his passing in December.

Tom never felt pressured to become the heir apparent, saying, "I went to Arizona State to pursue an aerospace engineering degree, and little did I know how much that would help me when I had to return to the horse business.”

"It never really was what you would call a real father-son relationship, working as an assistant for Dad. He became more my best friend.”

And for years, it worked.

In 1987, a horse named Alysheba won the Kentucky Derby, and won it in a way that would become a Van Berg calling card. Down the stretch, after clipping heels with Bet Twice, Alysheba almost took a header but recovered in time to wear roses with future Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron. Alysheba went on to win the Preakness but came up short in the Belmont.

Business was booming for the purple and gold. In 1993 and 1994, team Van Berg led the trainer standings at Santa Anita, while Tom and Dad managed the string at Hollywood Park. In 1995, Dad decided to give Tom his ultimate test. He took over the barn’s Midwest operation.

"Dad always said that he'd either give me enough rope to hang myself or enough so that I could pull myself up with,” Tom Van Berg said. 

Then in 2008, Tom's son, Tanner, was diagnosed with leukemia. Tom disbursed his stock and left the business.

Fortunately, his wife had a very stable job with the state which allowed Tom to become a stay at home Dad. Eventually, Tanner returned to health and Tom took a job working with Ragozin sheets.

"It helped me tremendously as a trainer in better understanding where a horse was and what levels to properly run them at," he said. 

He's now come full circle, but there has been and always will be one significant difference in Van Berg 2.0.

"I didn't learn this until Dad had passed,” Tom Van Berg said with a pause, tears welling up, “but one of our long-time owners came to me and told me that my Dad could never understand how I could have left the horses to take care of Tanner.”

Tom Van Berg's now trying to re-energize a barn after Jack’s death.

"I know I'll never be able to accomplish what my Dad did,” he said. “There never will be another Jack Van Berg. Some of the things that made Dad a very successful trainer, you couldn't do today. My passion now is to carry on the brand. I owe that to Dad.”

His first winner after taking over the barn came Jan. 12 at Oaklawn Park, with an aptly-named horse in Profound Moment.

“I know Dad was race riding that mare all the way to the wire,” Tom said. What sealed the deal was when he saw the winner’s circle picture from Coady Photography that also included a picture of Jack.

Now, Van Berg arrives every day at his Churchill Downs barn with the intent of one day finding his own Alysheba, the horse that taught him a lesson that Dad couldn't. The valuable experience of when you fall, you get back up and run like a champion. It’s something that Tom Van Berg has been doing all his life one way or another. 

Freelance sports writer Chuck Harper contributes regularly to The Oldham Era newspaper, where his work has been recognized by the Kentucky Press Association. Follow him on Twitter: @derbyboy1320.