Name: Mark Hennig

Birthdate: April 10, 1965

Birthplace: Mansfield, OH

Mark Hennig got his start in the business from his father, John, for whom he worked both before and after school cleaning stalls, ponying horses and assisting in feed time chores. After graduation, he attended Ohio State University with his sights set on veterinary medicine, but decided to become a trainer after a filly named Weekend Delight, whom Mark was grooming, won the Schuylerville Stakes on opening day at Saratoga. He landed a job working with Hall Of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg in May of 1987, then worked for Hall Of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas until 1992, when he went out on his own.

Hennig won his first race with Arabian Ace in July of 1992 at Hollywood Park, and Star of Cozzene gave him his first stakes winner in the Grade 3 San Gabriel Handicap on January 1, 1993. That year, Hennig went on to finish in the Top 10 trainers nationally with earnings of over $4 million; since then he has annually placed among the nation’s leading trainers. Among his top takes horses are Wesley (2008 Hall of Fame); Personal Hope (1993 Santa Anita Derby); Colonial Minstrel (1998 Shuvee), and Don’t Forget Gil (2008 East View).

Career Highlights: