Our Team
Your horse is in great hands with the dedicated and proven Genesis team.
Joe Engelhart
Managing Partner
Joe Engelhart is the Founder and CEO of Cincinnati Capital Corp, which he established in 1990 as a middle market investment banking firm. Early on, Joe entered the thoroughbred industry in 1983 by acquiring an Ohio-bred horse, Rolling On Over, running in Florida. He brought him back to Ohio and immediately entered him in the Horizon Stakes at River Downs. Subsequently Joe’s fate in the industry was sealed when his horse crushed it, kicking off Joe’s 40-year run in the business.
Later down the road, in 1985, Joe acquired Happy Times Farm in Ohio and eventually renamed it Classicway Farm. As a training, breeding, and boarding operation, Classicway quickly grew to be the largest in Ohio. At its peak, it held 40–60 horses in training and stood 8 stallions. These stallions included Belmont Stakes winner Avatar and three-time HOY in Ohio, Rollin On Over.
Moving forward in 2009, Joe acquired Stonewall Farm (original home of Medaglia D’Oro) in Versailles, KY. During that time, Joe assisted a young disrupter. Matt Hogan worked to start a breaking, training, and layup operation next door. Eventually he began using the training track at Stonewall for his start-up operation. Ultimately, Hogan built a racetrack on his adjacent property, and Blackwood Farm was born.
Most recently, in 2024, Joe recognized a unique opportunity to acquire the Genesis Training Center (formerly Jack Van Berg and then Dale Romans Training Center). With a focus in the industry, he saw the potential to reimagine what a training facility could offer. He aimed to create a truly unique and vastly different experience for Thoroughbred owners. To make this vision a reality, Joe partnered with Matt Hogan, aligning on a shared goal of building a world-class training center. Together, they combined experience and ambition to lead the project forward. After nearly a year of renovations, Genesis Training Center became the destination for owners looking for the best in breaking, training, and layups.
Matt Hogan grew up on a Thoroughbred farm in Versailles, KY and realized from a young age that he would always work with horses. Early on, Matt gained tremendous experience raising Thoroughbreds—from foaling mares to preparing yearlings for the sales, and everything in between. During college, Matt gained invaluable experience working with Dr. Doug Byars in the Internal Medicine Unit at Hagyard’s Equine Medical Institute.
Following graduation from the University of Kentucky, Matt worked for Clifford Barry at Pin Oak Stud to gain experience handling stallions. Soon after, he worked for Graham Motion in Fair Hill, MD to gain further experience with horses in training. In the following years, Matt traveled abroad to Ireland and completed the Irish National Stud Program. At this time overseas, he worked for Bill Dwan at Castlebridge Stud, prepping sale horses for all the major European sales. Afterward, he joined Con Marnane of Bansha House Stables, where he broke yearlings and trained horses for the 2-year-old sales.
However, in 2009, Matt returned to Central Kentucky, where he began privately breaking and pre-training horses for many local breeders and boarding farms. Over time, his reputation grew, and so did the demand for his expertise. Today, Matt’s broad experience in both the U.S. and Europe gives him a unique perspective on starting young horses. As the need for high-quality support facilities in Thoroughbred racing continued to grow, his startup operation naturally expanded. In response to this demand, Matt and his family opened a new boarding, training, and rehabilitation center: Matt Hogan Stables.
Currently, Matt and his wife, Jessica, live at Diamond A Farm with their three children—Eddie, Adrianna, and John. To this day, the entire family shares a love and passion for horse racing.
Matt Hogan
Partner / General Manager
Grant HofmanS
Head Trainer
Grant Hofmans is a native of California with over 35 years of hands-on experience in the Thoroughbred racing industry. From the start, he was immersed in the world of elite racehorses. His career began as an assistant trainer to his late father, renowned horseman David Hofmans. During this experience, Grant worked closely with countless stakes winners. As well as classic champions, gaining invaluable knowledge from the ground up.
As a result of career progression, Grant launched his own successful public racing stable, operating in both California and Kentucky. Later on he became the manager of Rancho Paseana Training and Lay Up Center in San Diego. Consequently this move further deepened his expertise and shifted his focus. Evidently, it was this chapter that he discovered a lasting passion for every phase of equine development. All the way from rehabilitation and layups to breaking and advanced training.
Today, Grant brings that same passion and depth of knowledge to Genesis Training Center. Alongside a team of dedicated professionals, he is committed to providing superior racehorse development in a world-class environment. With a reputation built on trust, Grant emphasizes expert care and open, honest relationships with owners. To this day, he ensures the very best outcomes for every Thoroughbred athlete under his supervision.
Annabella has been an avid equine enthusiast her entire life. While growing up in Long Island, NY, she rode competitively throughout her youth. As a result this solidified her desire to turn a lifelong admiration for horses into a fulfilling career. Furthermore that passion led her to the University of Kentucky in 2021. In college, a class project brought her to the Keeneland September Sale. Although she had no prior exposure to the racing world, she was captivated by the fast-paced energy of the sales and knew she had found her calling.
In the following years, Annabella gained hands-on training with Taylor Made Sales Agency, working in the Broodmare division alongside mares and foals. Particularly due to her dedication, she quickly earned a full-time position, allowing her to deepen her expertise and expand her role within the operation. Subsequently, she followed the Two-Year-Old sales circuit to Ocala, Florida. Following this experience she broadened her industry knowledge. Along the way, she began building her own broodmare band and a small string of racehorses. Ultimately laying the foundation for future endeavors in breeding and ownership.
Upon graduating in May 2025 with a degree in Communications, Annabella joined Genesis Training Center. Every day here she brings passion, insight, and a commitment to excellence in supporting both horses and owners.
Annabella Szczerbiak
Client Relations Administrator
Our Values
01
EXCELLENCE
We are committed to providing the highest standard of training and care for every horse.
EXCELLENCE
We are committed to providing the highest standard of training and care for every horse.
02
TRANSPARENCY
We prioritize open and honest communication with our clients, both owners and trainers, ensuring they are informed and engaged every step of the way.
TRANSPARENCY
We prioritize open and honest communication with our clients, both owners and trainers, ensuring they are informed and engaged every step of the way.
03
Passion
We share a deep love for Thoroughbred racing, inspiring us to go above and beyond in our efforts.
PASSION
We share a deep love for Thoroughbred racing, inspiring us to go above and beyond in our efforts.
04
Community
We believe in building long-term relationships with clients, and ensuring there is a supportive team behind every horse.
COMMUNITY
We believe in building long-term relationships with clients, and ensuring there is a supportive team behind every horse.
05
Fun
We strive to make the training process enjoyable so that our clients can more fully experience the fun and excitement of Thoroughbred racing.
FUN
We strive to make the training process enjoyable so that our clients can more fully experience the fun and excitement of Thoroughbred racing.