Horseman George Berkner, 74, perhaps best known for campaigning BGs Bunny, but more recently training 2010 New Jersey Classic winner BGs Folly and Feeling You, and co-owning Rockeyed Optimist, passed away on Thursday, July 28. Berkner had battled cancer for more than a year.
BGs Bunny won the 1977 Meadowlands Pace and set a 1:54 world record by a whopping five lengths in the process. Unfortunately, the euphoria from the big win didn't last long, as BGs Bunny shattered a sesamoid in five places in the race and never made another start.
Born in New York City, in Manhattan's Washington Heights district, Berkner's father was a tool-and-die maker who liked to make a trip to the track. When young, George took a summer job as a waiter at Kuschner Country Club in Monticello – he was conveniently close to Monticello Raceway.
Berkner got his first job working with horses in the Anthony Abbatiello Stable. He stayed there until he was drafted for service during the Vietnam War.
Berkner was in the Army for roughly seven months and was stationed in Hawaii where he learned that he had been discharged because of a family hardship. At that point, Berkner was the only male left in his family. He came home and returned to Monticello Raceway to get a job.
His next employers were Maurice Pusey, who had worked as an assistant for Clint Hodgins, and Sam Caton.
Not long afterward, Berkner moved to California to train there for three years. When he moved back to the east coast, he again settled at Monticello.
While at Monticello, Berkner met Bob Greenberg, who owned a bus line which specialized in transporting handicapped children in New York City.
At the 1975 Old Glory Yearling Sale, Berkner bought a colt named Cooring for $15,000 that had a bog spavin. Taking the initials from their first names, the colt was renamed BGs Bunny, with ‘Bunny’ a reference to a bunny Greenberg kept on the mirror of his car.
In later years, Berkner developed 1989 Little Brown Jug winner Goalie Jeff. When the colt was in training, Berkner was still trying to take it easy after having suffered a heart attack in the previous year, so he began to work with young trainer Mark Loewe. Goalie Jeff was sold to a group formed by Tom Artandi and went on to win the Jug.
Berkner trained horses for the late Alan Kirschenbaum, his close friend from the days when Kirschenbaum worked for him. Among Kirschenbaum's horses were the money-making overachiever Little Steven and Feeling You, who finished second in the Tarport Hap and Lynch Memorial.
Berkner is survived by his wife, Ginny; daughter, Mara Shad Berkner; and a grandson.
Funeral arrangements will be posted when available.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of George Berkner.
(With files from harnessracing.com)
My condolences to Ginny and
My condolences to Ginny and family. RIP George