Full-Length Feature Film Pays Tribute to three Nebraskans turned National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Horse Trainers: John Nerud, Marion and Jack Van Berg
ORD, NE – May 21, 2019 – Join in the excitement of America’s oldest sport and the impact and influence that three Nebraskans made in the national thoroughbred industry in the new “Born to Rein” documentary film with two special screenings at the Golden Husk – June 6th and 7th. Both screenings beginning at 7 p.m. and the filmmakers and co-producers, Jody L. Lamp and Melody Dobson of American Doorstop Project Productions, LLC, will be available for questions and interviews.
The “Born to Rein” documentary film features historic film footage and images of some of America’s thoroughbred Horse Racing’s Triple Crown races – the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. The timing of the documentary at the Golden Husk precedes the last race of the Triple Crown series – the Belmont Stakes, which is televised on June 8th; and coincides with 100th Anniversary of America’s First Triple Crown Winner, Sir Barton, who after retiring from racing also spent time in Nebraska, as a U.S. Army Remount Service Stallion at Fort Robinson near Crawford, NE.
Lamp and Dobson say “Born to Rein” honors and acknowledges for the first time on film the connections, contributions and lives and careers of native Nebraskans and National Hall of Fame Trainers – John Nerud of Minatare; and father-and-son trainers, Marion and Jack Van Berg of Columbus – and the how their horsemanship impacted and continues to influence the national thoroughbred industry today.
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“Most Nebraskans have never heard the name of John Nerud or realize that National Hall of Fame trainers like Bob Baffert and D.Wayne Lukas credit his influence in the industry for their success,” says Lamp, who was raised near his birthplace at the Nerud family homestead near Lake Minatare in western Nebraska. “Mr. Nerud certainly has been not recognized in any ‘Notable Nebraskan’ narratives prior to us working on the film, so we hope others will enjoy seeing historic footage of his history and learn something new about their state of Nebraska.”
Born To Rein also features the journey of a young, Aurora, Nebraskan native, Marion Van Berg, who was the first Nebraskan ever to be inducted into the Nebraska Racing Hall of Fame; and the National Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in 1970. His son, Jack Van Berg, born and raised in Columbus, would be become the first trainer ever to reach a national career high of 5,000 wins; and set a record with 496 wins in one year.
- Jack Van Berg was inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 1985.
- John Nerud was inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 1972.
Event tickets are available for $10 per person at The Golden Husk Theatre 308.730.8133, Ord Area Chamber Office 308.728.7875, and on ShopOrd.com. “We are pleased to present this Nebraska-made film honoring the legacies of three rural Nebraska trainers and their continual influence on the horse racing industry. We are also very excited to welcome the film producers to The Husk for a discussion with our patrons after the screenings. Join us for this unique experience, as a great prelude to the Belmont Stakes,” commented Dahn Hagge, Director of The Golden Husk Theatre.
Fast Facts about the Film and Filmmakers:
- Research for “Born to Rein” began in 2009 after Lamp discovered a son of Sir Barton’s was sold at the May 1946 horse sale at Billings Livestock Commission in Billings, MT.
- Lamp & Dobson launched the American Doorstop Project on July 1, 2015; and launched film production for “Born to Rein” at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., in Nov. 2017.
- Lamp & Dobson continued filming at Churchill Downs during the 2018 Kentucky Derby and captured the 13th Triple Crown Winner – Justify – and his Hall of Fame Jockey, Mike Smith, leading the field of competitors around the first backstretch turn to win the first leg of the Triple Crown races.
- Lamp & Dobson wrote a book – A History of Nebraska Agriculture: A Life Worth Living and launched it in Grand Island, NE on June 7, 2017 – Jack Van Berg’s 80th Birthday.
Other National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductees interviewed for “Born to Rein”:
- Bob Baffert, Two-Time Triple Crown Winning Trainer
- Carl Nafzger, Trainer of Kentucky Derby winners, Unbridled and Street Sense
- D. Wayne Lukas, Trainer of 24 Thoroughbred Champions
- Bill Mott, Three-Time Eclipse Award Outstanding Trainer; and 2019 Kentucky Derby winner.
- Gary Stevens, Youngest jockey ever to surpass $100 million in career earnings
- Pat Day, Jockey ranking fourth in all-time career victories with 8,803 wins
“Born to Rein”:
“Born to Rein” commemorates the lives and accomplishments of native Nebraskans and National Hall of Fame Horsemen, John A. Nerud of Minatare, and father-and-son Marion and Jack Van Berg of Columbus/Grand Island. Nerud, a Navy veteran and one of America’s most accomplished and revered thoroughbred horse trainers and breeders, co- founded the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Classic. He was inducted into the National Museum of Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1972. Marion Van Berg was the nation’s leading owner in racing victories 14 times and was the first Nebraskan inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1970. Like his father, Jack Van Berg set records for the most wins. His best horse, Alysheba, won the 1987 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic, and was Horse of the Year in 1988.
