OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 1, 201—Tonight, a twelve-year-old girl watches her first racehorse make his 2014 debut under her ownership and his first start this season at Remington Park. She comes from a long line of horseman and a family you might have heard of a time or two. Kharlottie Grace is the twelve-year-old great-granddaughter of Dan and Jolene Urschel and she is a first time racehorse owner.

The Urschel’s have seen their share of success in the Quarter Horse racing business campaigning headliners such as World Champion Special Effort (the first and only Quarter Horse Triple Crown Winner to date), All American Futurity winner Pie In The Sky, and Champion Leading Spirit just to name a few. They are also breeders of many legends in Quarter Horse racing such as leading sire, Strawfly Special. In fact, the Urschel family bred the first American Quarter Horse race winner in Remington Park history, Mystery Effort (May 25, 1989).

Grade 1 Texas Classic Futurity finalist, Cr Tuckernuck is Kharlottie’s first racehorse. He was a gift from her great-grandparents Dan and Jolene. “We just clicked”, said Lottie (as her friends and family call her). “We have a connection and I just love him. When I first saw Tucker last summer, I thought he was small, but he has really bloomed since then and is huge now!”

Cr Tuckernuck was bred in Oklahoma by Weetona Stanley & W E Smith. He is by Jet Black Patriot and out of the Corona Cartel mare, Fast Prize Corona. The brown gelding was impressive early in his schooling races at Remington in 2013 and made his racing debut with a qualification to the Grade 2 Oklahoma futurity before heading to the mountain to qualify for the Ruidoso Juvenile Invitational where he finished fourth. He eventually qualified for the Grade 1 Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star in October. “Tucker had a few minor setbacks that he is fully recovered from now”, added Kharlottie.

The Texas pre-teen is no stranger to the racetrack. She has been a fixture at Ruidoso Downs and recalls playing on the tables at the races and giving tours to family friends as a few of her early memories. “I know the racetrack like the back of my hand”, said Lottie. “One of my favorite memories was getting to go to the winner’s circle with my family when Leading Spirit won the Rainbow Futurity in 2005. . .that was a lot of fun.”

Kharlottie Urschel is a well-rounded young lady with a passion for the horse industry. She stands at a lengthy 5’10”, plays softball and models. When prompted to discuss her hobbies, nothing seems to light her up as much as talking horses. Most teenagers are glued to their mobile devices these days, but this girl prefers climbing the stairs of her great-grandparents summer home in Ruidoso to daydream about horses and admire the win photos and blankets of her family’s six generations of racing history.

“I’m really excited about tonight… I’m pumped.” Lottie said in describing her first race as an owner. She will be making the trip from Denton Texas with her great-grandparents to watch Cr Tuckernuck in race 11, his prep race for the summer derbies at Ruidoso Downs. “Horses aren’t my whole life, they make it whole.” – Kharlottie Urschel