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Berkner was a real character. We knew each other from our early days in the game as we were both NY'er's and part of that NY crowd that went from the NY tracks to the Meadowlands. George actually had a small interest in Tully's sale company. I don't know the details, but it may have been a result of the BG's Bunny deal. Guida did too. I think both got out when Tully sold out to PEM. Not sure. But George was a character who always found a way to make a good living in this business. After his heart attack he started to play a different kind of role, but he still was a hands-on manager. Even in 1988 when he came up with Goalie Jeff and Hit The Bid, George managed both, but I don't know that he was sitting behind them for their serious training miles. But George not only trained them, he owned a piece of each as well. He put together the partnership and bought both as yearlings. He continued to come up with a good horse every few years after that, including San Gimignano, BG's Folly” and later on Rockeyed Optimist, and in his later years he handed off the training to others.
Sadly, George died 10 years ago this past July. The funeral was in Asbury Park down where he lived and what a lot of people don't know is that in his later years he was active and supported Heading for Home Racehorse Adoption Center, which brought together retired racehorses with disabled children.
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