Residence: Marshall, Ark.

Campaigned Eclipse Award winners Will Take Charge & Take Charge Brandi

• Retired homebuilder Willis Horton has reached the pinnacle as an owner, campaigning two Eclipse Award champions – Will Take Charge and Take Charge Brandi – and capturing the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with Lemons Forever.
• His 2021 Oaklawn meet was highlighted by five stakes victories. Will’s Secret won the Martha Washington and Honeybee (G3), while Silver State, owned in partnership with Winchell Thoroughbreds, won the Fifth Season, Essex Handicap and Oaklawn Handicap (G2). Silver State capped a six-race win streak with a victory in the Met Mile (G1).
• Homebred Long Range Toddy won the first division of the 2019 $750,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) and continued to run well in 2021. He was second in the Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs and third in the David M. Vance Stakes at Remington Park this year.
• Horton watched Will Take Charge become the country’s champion 3-year-old male of 2013 after winning Oaklawn’s $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes and $600,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) and the Travers Stakes (G1), Pennsylvania Derby (G2) and Clark Handicap (G1). Will Take Charge also won the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in 2014.
• Horton’s Take Charge Brandi was named the country’s champion 2-year-old filly of 2014 after winning three stakes races, including the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at odds of 61-1.
• Take Charge Brandi’s final career victory came in the $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes in 2015 at Oaklawn. Horton sold Take Charge Brandi for $6 million at the 2015 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
• The Horton owned Laurie’s Rocket won the $75,000 Hot Springs Stakes in 2013 at Oaklawn.
• Horton’s family also campaigned multiple stakes winner Partner’s Hero.