Mark Berner first worked with horses on a small farm in upstate New York in 1973, where he mucked stalls and cared for racehorses with infirmities that were turned out there until ready to resume training.
Berner has been a groom, clocker, handicapper, sportswriter, columnist and editor at various times throughout a career that has spanned more than four decades.

He joined American Teletimer as a clocker in 1976 and operated its electronic timing equipment at many east coast racetracks until 1978, when he was permanently stationed at NYRA’s three tracks, Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park & Saratoga Race Course.

Berner did freelance handicapping for the New York Daily News in 1982 & 1983 before joining Newsday in 1984 as a handicapper and later a sports reporter.

Berner teamed up with John Pricci to win the United Press International’s 1985 UPI New York Newspaper Awards for Best Sports Story. In addition, Berner worked for several trade publications including Daily Racing Form, Sports Eye, The Thoroughbred Times, Horse Player Magazine, New York Sportsnet and HorseRaceInsider.com.

Berner’s reporting and opinions on Thoroughbred racing can now be read on HorseRaceInsider.com in his “Inside New York” blog.