Peter O. Johnson was a relative newcomer to the horse racing industry when he arrived at the sportâ??s mecca on May 6, 2006, and watched Barbaro race to a victory in the Kentucky Derby. As Johnson left Churchill Downs that day, the longtime Madison resident made a vow to sons Peter Jr. and Erik that he wouldnâ??t return until he had a horse in the race. Johnson grew up in Monroe and graduated from the University of Wisconsin. He dated the woman who is now his wife in college, but Peter and Ellen went their separate ways after UW until reuniting some 30 years later following divorces from their respective spouses.
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