Robison, J. Kirk and Judy

The Robisons met in California when they were students at San Jose State and moved to El Paso, Texas, in 1973 to operate a franchise in the Wienerschnitzel restaurant chain. They struggled initially, but made it a success, sold it and moved ahead in the restaurant business: they own 42 Peter Piper Pizza restaurants and 39 Burger Kings. Kirk became a racing fan when he was growing up in Colton, Calif., and went to Santa Anita Park with his father. The Robisons began buying Thoroughbreds in the late 1990s and often race at Sunland Park in New Mexico, just outside El Paso.