Stetsonn's owner G.R. Carter celebrates during the races Sunday.

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By Tim Keithley, courtesy of the Alamogordo News

RUIDOSO, NM–JUNE 5, 2025– He’s about thirty pounds heavier than in his riding days, but when GOAT G.R. Carter walked back into the winner’s circle last weekend at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack racing fans got the sense that it was just like old times.

“To be clear, it’s not the same adrenaline,” G.R. said about owning the horse instead of riding it. “There’s a little rush you get when you’re watching your horse, but it isn’t like sitting on the back of one and screaming down the racetrack all the way to the finish line.”

The excitement of winning is enough to keep G.R. and his wife Shaena interested and coming back to the track as owners. On Sunday, they watched their three-year-old quarter horse Stetsonn win the sixth race by a neck in a top-ten fastest time of the day. The gelding will race in the $830,000 Ruidoso Derby on June 7.

“It’s fantastic to participate in the entire process from the beginning,” G.R. said. “We have his mother right here on our ranch in Oklahoma City. Shaena works with our babies from the time they’re born, and now when we’re watching one of our horses win a Triple Crown trial race.”

Carter is always quick with a funny remark and a “whoop” when things go his way. He already is the greatest quarter horse jockey of all time and his records remain at the top of the AQHA charts including 4,013 career wins and numerous world champion honors. While he continues as a small businessman running a pipeline company, building houses, and operating the “Osage Indian Smoke Shop” in Tulsa (there’s a good story behind that one), his future in horse racing has a singular goal.

“Shaena and I want to win a Triple Crown race as owners,” G.R. said. “Hopefully, it’s going to be the All American, but we’ll start with the Ruidoso Derby next weekend,” he said with a smile.

G.R. says that if the Carters were fortunate enough to win a Triple Crown race to expect something special in the winner’s circle immediately following the race.

“My plan is to see if the jockey will pull-off and let me back in the saddle for the picture,” he said. “Then if everybody wants to see another back-flip, we’ll have to back over to the new infield pond where I can make a splash just in case.

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