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His Last All American: G.R. Carter Announces Pending Retirement
Ten-time AQHA Racing Champion jockey G.R. Carter, Jr. announced his pending retirement plans.

© Greg Thompson / StallioneSearch
His Last All American: G.R. Carter Announces Pending Retirement

by Greg Thompson, Stallionesearch.com

RUIDOSO, NM–AUGUST 26, 2015—Ten-time AQHA Racing World Champion jockey G.R. Carter, Jr., who has qualified four head into the $3 million 2015 All American Futurity(G1) and qualified one horse into the $2.3 million 2015 All American Derby(G1) this past weekend, has announced his pending plans of retiring at the end of 2015 season to Stallionesearch.com.

The 47-year old jockey, born in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, has been pondering his retirement plans for the last couple of years.

“I been analyzing the proper time for me to retire for the last couple of years,” said Carter. “The time to retire was never going to be perfect, but this is time my family and I have decided it would be best if I did so. It is my plan to continue throughout to the end of this year, and then officially retire.”

The decision to announce the retirement comes during a racing year that has all signs pointing towards Carter surely wrestling for the AQHA World Champion Jockey title at years end. With the qualifying of the four-horses into the All American Futurity(G1), the win aboard Dashin Brown Streak in the Remington Park Invitational Championship(G1), and the win aboard Kiss My Hocks in the Rainbow Derby(G1), Carter finds it hard not to leave the door cracked just a bit for opportunities to ride in the big events in 2016 if the chance arises.


First Valiant Sign, under jockey G.R. Carter, Jr., setting the fastest qualifying time on day 2 of All American trials at Ruidoso Downs. © Gay Harris/ Ruidoso Downs
“I would definitely entertain the notion to come ride a horse like First Valiant Sign in his three-year old campaign if Mike(Joiner) would perhaps give me that opportunity,” said Carter. “It is my intention to retire, but I love to ride races, especially in the big Grace 1 events. I would have to discuss it with my family at the time, but taking a mount here and there is certainly not completely out of the question.”

CLICK HERE To Watch Interview With G.R. Carter, Jr. concerning his pending retirement.

Hall of Fame Career

Carter has produced a race-riding career that will be the modern day measuring stick for all future riders to come. Last year, G.R. Carter surpassed Alvin “Bubba” Brossette to become the all-time winning jockey in Quarter Horse racing history(3,792 wins) . He also holds the all-time record for career starts (23,825 as of 08/21/2015), career earnings ($69,207,664 as of 08/21/2015), stakes victories (362 as of 08/21/2015), and G1 winners.


G.R. Carter, Jr. winning the 2008 All American Futurity(G1) aboard Stolis Winner.
© Andrea Caudill / AQHA Racing Journal
Carter has had the honor of riding countless stakes winning champions in his career. Some of the noted horses that Carter has been aboard include: Be A Bono, Carters Cookie, Country Chicks Man, Dashin Is Easy, Dashing Perfection, Dashin Brown Streak, De Passem Okey, Falling In Loveagain, Fast First Prize, Fast Prize Zoom, FDD Dynasty, Fredaville, Hez Ramblin Man, Got Country Grip, Jess Cuervo, Jess Zoomin, Llano Teller, Lota PYC, Louisiana Senator, Mighty B Valiant, Noblesse Six, PYC Paint Your Wagon, Skuze Pleeze, Stolis Winner, Terrific Synergy, Valiant Hero, Barbs Bounce, Down With Debt, and First Painted Sign.

Carter has numerous Grade 1 victories in the All American Derby(G1), two-time All American Futurity(G1) winner, Bank of America Challenge Championship(G1), Championship at Sunland Park(G1), Ed Burke Million Futurity(G1), Go Man Go Handicap(G1), two-time Golden State Futurity(G1) winner, two-time Golden State Derby(RG1) winner, Governors Cup Futurity(RG1), five-time Heritage Place Futurity(G1) winner, Kindergarten Futurity(G1), 4-time Leo Stakes(G1) winner, two-time Los Al Super Derby(G1) winner, two-time Los Al Two Million Futurity(G1) winner, two-time Los Al Winter Derby(G1) winner, two-time Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap(G1) winner, PCQHRA Breeders Futurity(G1), two-time Rainbow Futurity(G1) winner, two-time Rainbow Derby(G1) winner, three-time Red Cell Distance Challenge Championship(G1) winner, two-time Refrigerator Handicap(G1) winner, two-time Remington Park Invitational Championship(G1) winner, Ruidoso Derby(G1), Ruidoso Futurity(G1), seven-time Sooner State Stakes(RG1) winner, Southern California Derby(G1), three-time Spencer Childers Cal Breeders Championship(RG1) winner, three-time Texas Classic Derby(G1) winner, Texas Classic Futurity(G1), two-time Vessels Maturity(G1) winner, and the West Texas Futurity(G1).