Dr. Charles W. “Doc” Graham of Elgin Texas passed away on Saturday, June 21.

© Southwest Stallion Station

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ELGIN, TX–JUNE 22, 2025–Dr. Charles W. “Doc” Graham, a cornerstone of the Texas horse racing and breeding industries, passed away on Saturday, June 21, after a courageous battle with cancer. His death marks the loss of a visionary whose influence reached far beyond the barns and breeding sheds of Elgin, leaving a legacy that helped define modern horse racing in the Southwest.

Dr. Graham spent more than six decades shaping the horse industry in Texas and beyond. A veterinarian by training and a horseman at heart, his impact on both Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred racing came through leadership, business vision, and a strong belief in long-term growth of the horse industry.

After earning his degree in Animal Husbandry from Texas A&M in 1953 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1961, Dr. Graham co-founded Elgin Veterinary Hospital. He helped build it into one of the leading equine surgical and reproductive centers in the United States. At a time when high-quality equine care was limited in the region, he brought veterinary standards that changed expectations and raised the bar.

He later established Southwest Stallion Station in Elgin, Texas, which under his leadership became one of the most prominent breeding operations in the Southwest. The ranch stood some of the industry’s most successful stallions and earned a national reputation among breeders looking for proven bloodlines and professional service.

Beyond the ranch and clinic, he played a critical role in reshaping the commercial side of the Quarter Horse industry. He was a founding partner of Heritage Place Sales Company in Oklahoma City, a venture that would go on to become one of the premier auction houses in the country for Quarter Horse racing stock.

His involvement helped establish Heritage Place as the industry’s gold standard for professional, high-integrity sales. It gave breeders and buyers alike a trusted venue to do business. The company’s growth and influence reflected Dr. Graham’s commitment to building something lasting and beneficial to the wider industry.

Dr. Graham also gave back through leadership. He was the only individual to serve as president of both the Texas Quarter Horse Association and the Texas Thoroughbred Association. He was a key voice in the effort to pass pari-mutuel wagering legislation in Texas, helping revive and modernize the state’s racing industry.

Over the years, his contributions were recognized at the highest levels. He was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame, the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame, the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. He was also honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine.

However, those who knew Dr. Graham will remember more than the accolades. He was steady, fair, and committed to helping others succeed. He believed in hard work, respected the process, and stayed true to his principles.

"To me, Dr. Graham is one of the icons of Quarter Horse racing," Dr. Larry Findley of Delta Equine Center said.  "He was like E.F. Hutton, because when Dr. Graham talked … everybody listened.  He was so influential for the sport, for pari-mutuel racing in Texas, that without him, I am not sure Quarter Horse racing would be what it is today."

His legacy lives on in the veterinarians he trained, the breeding programs he helped shape, the sales company he helped launch, and the many people across the industry who turned to him for advice and leadership.

Dr. Charles Graham didn’t chase headlines, but he built institutions that will outlast them. He left an undeniable mark on the American Quarter Horse industry through veterinary medicine, breeding, a sales company, and general good horsemanship.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.