Peter Vegso

Growing up in Montreal, Canada, Peter Vegso developed a love of horses while spending summers on his grandparents’ farm. As an adult, he liked going to the track and always thought it would be nice to own a racehorse.

In 1976, Vegso moved to the United States to co-found Health Communications, Inc. (HCI). As president and publisher of HCI, one of the largest self-help publishers outside of New York, Vegso has enjoyed great success.

In the mid-1980’s Vegso became involved in racing through limited racing partnerships. He raced as Five Star Stable and had success with such horses as graded stakes winner Bay Street Star and stakes winners Express Star, Turf Star and Star Jolie. In the name of Rocking Horse Farm, Vegso bred stakes winners Press Type and Sweeping.

One of Peter’s greatest professional accomplishments occurred in 1992, while at a booksellers convention. Vegso agreed to publish a manuscript that an acquaintance, Jack Canfield, was peddling—even though more than 100 publishers had rejected the book. The manuscript was a compilation of inspirational stories Canfield had collected during his 20 years as a motivational speaker. The book came to be known as Chicken Soup for the Soul. There are now more than 100 Chicken Soup titles; and more than 100 million copies of the series are in print in more than 50 languages.

In 1995, Vegso established his own farm, The Racing Edge, in Ocala, Fla. Vegso has bred several graded stakes winners Orchard Park, Silver Tree, Splendid Blended and Go Between. In 2002, Orchard Park won the Jefferson Cup Stakes, Palm Beach Stakes, Virginia Derby and Gravelines Stakes. In 2006, Vegso’s homebred Go Between captured the grade IIT Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs and set a course record. Go Between also won the Palm Beach Stakes and has placed in four stakes races.

Vegso sees thoroughbred horse ownership as more than just a hobby, but a viable business.