Michael Zwiesler got his love of Thoroughbreds from his father, who owned horses in the 1970s.  “I always went to the races with him,” he recalls.  Zwiesler acted as assistant trainer to Neil Howard for twenty years, and took out his own trainer’s license in 1999.  His major clients were Bayard Sharp and William S. Farish, and Zwiesler still trains for Mr. Farish today.  He had his first winner with a horse called Steel guitar at Delaware Park, and later had his first career stakes win there with a filly called Shag.  “The girls all used to laugh at the filly’s name,” Zwiesler says.

Zwiesler now spends his time between Tampa Bay Downs and DelawarePark.  His family includes wife Susan, whom Zwiesler describes as, “My backbone.  I move around a lot, and she’s always been so understanding and supportive.”  His daughter Katherine has inherited her father’s love of horses, and is currently competing in horse shows with jumpers.  Zwiesler explains that when he’s not conditioning horses, “I fish and play golf - but I’m terrible at golf!”