Weatherford, Texas, horseman, rancher and real estate developer Preston M. Carter has been involved with horses all of his life. In the late 1970's Preston became involved with racing through his friendship with B.F. Phillips, Jr., and Jerry Rheudasil.

While owning both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, Preston raced many stakes winners with the most notable being the $1.16 Million earner On A High. In 1983, the Phillips, Rheudasil and Carter owned On A High earned $1 Million for winning the prestigious $2 Million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. The next year at Manor Downs, On A High set a 440-yard Texas record while winning the Texas Quarter Horse Association Derby.

Now 25 years old, On A High continues to stand at stud and is the No. 11 all-time leading living sire of American Quarter Horse money earners. A trust for Preston's children remains involved in the ownership of On A High.

Others horses that Preston owned include the stakes winner Sixarun, a $291,000 earner and Texas Champion who went on the sire the earners of nearly $8 Million. Now pensioned, Sixarun is the No. 14 all-time leading living sire of American Quarter Horse money earners. Sixarun is now owned by Texas Horseracing Hall of Fame member Clarence Scharbauer, Jr.

Formerly president and chairman of the board of the Texas Horse Racing Association, Preston is a life member of the American Quarter Horse Association, the Texas Thoroughbred Association and the Texas Quarter Horse Association. He is an honorary vice president of the Texas Quarter Horse Association.

Preston was one of the key figures in the passage of pari-mutuel legislation in Texas in the 1980's. After the successful passage of pari-mutuel wagering in 1987, Preston embarked upon his dream of building a racetrack in North Texas. Preston formed a partnership of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse owners known as Lone Star Jockey Club and in 1992 was awarded the license to build Lone Star Park. Carter sold an interest in the largest and most successful track in Texas just before the track opened in 1997.

Preston remains active in politics in Texas today, continuing to work to improve horse racing through such things as the approval of additional gaming at tracks.

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