Known for his love of Sport of Kings, owner and breeder Willis D. Horton passed away October 7 in Fayetteville, Ark., of pneumonia at the age of 82.
After returning home from his annual trip to Keeneland in September, Horton’s son Kevin said the whole family contracted COVID-19 and his father “couldn’t ignore it.”
Horton, a resident of Marshall, Ark., worked in various fields throughout his life including cattle ranching and home construction. He quit his nephew Donald Horton’s construction business — DR Horton — around 2000 and left for Texas, where the company is based.
Upon his return to Arkansas, Horton continued working with cattle while continuing to pursue his passion for racing.
“He likes to get up early in the morning and train with his hands and then come home to start watching horse racing or take part in races,” says Kevin Horton. “Oaklawn was his way home and back in the day he and his brother Leon Horton, they lived in Marshall. Two and a half hours to Oaklawn and they would be up before daylight.
“They’ll take care of their livestock, come back, make up, topless, and they’ll go to Hot Springs. They never miss a day during the season. They’ll come home after dark. and then wake up and do it again.. That’s what the love of racing is.”
Kevin Horton added that his father had not seen success in years and that “money was tight”. However, when success comes to Lemon forever in 2006 Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Willis Horton leads Will Take Charge to the winner’s circle after the 2013 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing
Since then, he has had many horses reach the sport’s highest levels including ranked multi-stakes winner and 3-year-old pony 2013 champion Fees will be charged who made almost 4 million dollars and the 2 year old eclipse champion fat Let’s charge Brandi who won 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Fillies (G1) in 2014. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas trained both horses for Horton.
Video: Horton and Lukas After Will Take Charge beat Clark Handicap 2013 (G1)
“He himself has a great eye for a horse and he understands the game. He’s the game, and he’s not afraid to step up and spend money on a good horse,” Lukas said. “He can also pick one out. We’ve had a great relationship, it’s always been really pleasant.
“We had a couple of horses that did really well, Will Take Charge and Take Charge Brandi. He was funny; he had a great sense of humour. He showed it when he received the Eclipse Award. on stage… I’ll miss him.”
Willis Horton receives the Eclipse Award for 2013 male champion 3 years old Will Take Charge
Horton also works alongside Case Clay, the current commercial director of Three Chimneys, who has been managing his stables for seven years.
Clay said: “He was a great man, good as gold. “He loves racing and has had some great experiences with two champions and a recent 1st class winner with Silver State won the (Hill ‘n’ Dale) Met Mile (G1) featuring Ron Winchell. “
Kevin Horton says he wants to continue in his father’s footsteps.
Kevin Horton said: “We want to keep racing for as long as we can… He’s been in bad health for about five years and he’s always been the one in charge. “He always called all the spearheads of breeding and everything. He read and knew the bloodline well.
“He’s always tried to teach me that, and I’ll never be as smart as he is about it but I’ve probably lost to him a bit. Hopefully we can continue his legacy. … I couldn’t ask for a better father than he ever was, a mentor, to teach me how to survive in the various fields we were involved in.”
Horton left behind his wife Glenda, son Kevin and wife Laurie, and their children Tressa and Brandi.
The birthday celebration will be held October 11 at the Roller-Coffman Funeral Home in Marshall. The visitation will take place from 12-2pm and the service will take place at 3pm. Kevin Horton said that according to his father’s wishes, there will be a donation to the PDJF (Permanently Disabled Jockeys Foundation) in lieu of flowers.
