Philip G. Johnson

Philip G. Johnson, a native of Chicago, IL,

History

Johnson's first racehorse, Song Master, was purchased at auction for $75. Two years later the horse finally proved himself by winning at Hawthorne Race Course. This win was Johnson's first in a long career that lasted 60 years. Volponi won his first stakes race, the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes, in 2000. In 2001 he was the winner in the Pegasus Handicap, a Grade 2 stakes race. He also won one more Grade 3 stakes race in 2002, the Poker Handicap. Volponi eventually won the prestigious $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic back on Johnson's native turf of Arlington Park, on October 26, 2002. The win was a shocking upset, memorable not only due to the long odds of 43–1, but also due to the record 6 ½ lengths Voloponi won by. Volponi continued to do well for Johnson throughout 2003, coming in second in five of the seven races he ran that year.

Career statistics

Starts Wins Seconds Thirds Earnings Average Earnings/Start 14,066 2,315 1,784 1,829 $47,519,937 $3,378

Stable In 2002 Johnson was training 38 horses in his stable, which was based throughout the winter in New York.

Career honors

In 1997 Philip Johnson was inducted into the Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Last race

On July 9, 2004, Johnson entered Angela's Angel in a Maiden Special Weight turf race at Belmont Park in New York. The horse came in tenth place. One month later, on August 6, 2004, Johnson died.