Mark Herschberger may not yet be a household name in harness racing, but his rapid rise through the ranks speaks volumes.

Herschberger quickly carved a niche for himself as one of the top drivers at Freehold Raceway, despite starting his career later than most.

The 29-year-old reinsman, a fresh face at The Meadowlands in 2024, recently joined Dave Little for an insightful conversation on the latest segment of "In The Sulky."

His straightforward approach has proven effective, and his performance on the track speaks for itself.

“Just give me the horses, and I’ll do my best to get them to the winner’s circle,” explained Herschberger, who drove winners of more than 100 races and nearly $950,000 in purses in a breakthrough season in 2024.

Herschberger is no stranger to harness racing. He comes from a family deeply entrenched in the sport. His uncles include Andy Miller, a seasoned driver with more than 10,000 career wins, and Erv Miller, one of just four trainers in the sport with more than 6,000 wins. Additionally, his cousins Marcus and Tyler Miller are both accomplished drivers.

Unlike many of his peers who grew up with racing in their blood, Herschberger didn’t start driving until much later in life. His journey into the sport began after assisting his uncle Erv Miller's stable and then working for trainer Joe Putnam. Through Putnam, Herschberger got the opportunity to pursue his 'A' driving license, which he earned in November 2022. 

Herschberger’s first experience driving was in Indiana, where he began his career at the fairs before moving on to Hoosier Park. His journey eventually led him east, where a personal commitment to his fiancée’s family brought him to Freehold Raceway. His fiancée’s mother owned a large training center and he was given the chance to drive for her. Soon after, he made a name for himself at Freehold.

What sets Herschberger apart is his focus on people and relationships. 

“Just being personable. Talking to people. Trying to be the best guy you can out there and bringing good feedback after you drive the horse, that seems to help a lot,” he noted.

With Freehold Raceway now closed, Mark has his sights set on Harrah's Philadelphia and Pocono Downs, where he plans to make his mark and establish himself as a consistent force at those tracks.

"It’s about winning races, but it’s also about minimizing the mistakes out there,” he reflected. “That's what I've tried to do. I've tried to learn from each one of those mistakes and try to improve.”

The full segment is available below. 

(Standardbred Canada)