As he trains for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey and the Avalanche 2016-17 season, defenseman Erik Johnson is wedging in enjoyment as a thoroughbred owner.
“Hockey is priority No. 1,” Johnson said this week. “Just like people like to play golf on weekends, I like to watch my horses race.”
On Sunday at Arapahoe Park, Johnson will be an intensely interested spectator as his 2-year-old colt, Crosscheck Carlos, runs in the Aurora track’s richest thoroughbred race, the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity, on the final day of the 2016 meeting.
As ERJ Racing, Johnson shares ownership of Crosscheck Carlos with Slam Dunk Racing, a separate small partnership headed by Nick Cosato; and Neil Haymes.