FRISCO — Remington’s run for a world record is going to be close.

On Friday, the Clydesdale from Princeton measured 80 inches tall with his shoes on. The measurement scheduled for Saturday sans horseshoes will be the one that Guinness World Records will use to determine whether he qualifies at the world’s tallest living horse. But both measurements are required.

Radar, a Belgian in Mount Pleasant, holds the current record at 79 1/2 inches tall.

Remington’s owner, Cheryl Davis, said he might lose a quarter inch to a half inch in height without his shoes. But she and trainer Bunny Morrissey are going to work on getting their big boy to stand tall.

That was part of the problem on Friday. Remington was barely awake in the hot afternoon sun in the parking lot at Lake Country Animal Hospital in Frisco. That’s where Dr. Scooter Brown has been treating Remington for more than a decade.

To measure Remington’s height, Brown mounted a step stool with a tape measure and a level, surrounded by reporters, friends and witnesses required by Guinness. Among the witnesses were Frisco Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Cheney and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Bob Allen.

The first measurement came in at 78 inches, shocking Davis and others in the crowd.

“I wouldn’t have gone through this if I’d known he was 78 inches,” Davis said about her 12-year-old horse who acts like a playful puppy some days. “We measured him at more than 80.”

After some talking, they decided to try again, this time using a 2x4 rather than the flimsy tape measure. They also moved inside the barn where the ground was more level.

Plano horse trainer Britt McCormick took Remington for a quick trot in the parking lot to wake him up, and they tried again.

Davis was a bundle of nerves, pacing at the back of the crowd. Brown climbed atop the stool again and felt for Remi’s withers, where the measurement is taken.

“The vertebrae has a little spread where the neck ends and the shoulder begins,” Brown said of the spot.

McCormick helped adjust Remington’s feet so they were even and he wasn’t leaning to one side. Morrissey held his lead rope and pestered him to stand tall.

This time, Remington’s height was an easy 80 inches.

“We just couldn’t get him to wake up,” Brown said of the first attempt. “He’s never been taught to stand.”

Brown said he did some official measurements years ago and noted that the owners spent weeks working with the horse to get it to stand tall.

Morrissey and Davis are already talking about a cold shower and some carrots to motivate Remington on Saturday.

“It’s going to be a tight race,” Davis said.