Hall of Fame horse racer accused of using his horse as a weapon in an assault

OKLAHOMA CITY ( KFOR ) – A man who was inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame last year now has a warrant for his arrest for assault and battery using a dangerous weapon.

Eddie Willis has been a horse trainer for years and has won millions of dollars in races over the past several decades.

According to the Remington Park: Racing & Casino website, Eddie was approaching 700 victories at Remington Park through 2018, and said that Willis is the all-time leader in Oklahoma City. Overall he is approaching 1,600 career AQHA wins and has amassed total earnings of more than $30 million.

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According to a warrant that came out Wednesday he allegedly assaulted another man who had just won a race at Remington Park with the horse Willis was riding on. Willis told News 4 that the race had $250,000 on the line.

“I can’t beat these cheaters, that’s what I said,” said Willis on a phone call with News 4.

The warrant alleged that after the race Willis was on a horse and yelled: “you ******* cheaters, that’s ********.”

A minor verbal exchange was made with trainer Ollie Matthews telling him, “**** you” and turned around to walk away. But after that, Willis, came by him almost striking him with the horse.

That’s when Willis’ grandson Cooper Willis came after Matthews while on his horse and allegedly knocked Matthews to the ground. Security at the park eventually grabbed Matthews and got him out of there.

But, the document stated that when Matthews drove back to the stables called The Barn, Eddie was waiting for him on his horse.

Eddie allegedly came after Matthews, using the horse’s chest/side to knock him to the ground. Matthews told police that Eddie used a pony lead to strike him as he hit him with the horse.

Then Cooper came towards him but the horse he was on tripped and fell, knocking Cooper off. Cooper allegedly got up, went over to Matthews, and kicked him while he was down.

During the assault, Eddie allegedly used a racial slur and said, “I’ll teach you ****** about saying **** you to me.”

“I did not call him the n-word,” said Eddie to News 4.

Eddie denied most of what was said in the arrest warrant.

However, the warrant said that surveillance footage was found showing the actions and that over ten people were interviewed who were witnesses to the incident itself.

The documents said that Eddie was described on numerous occasions as being the “bully of the county, very violent, and a hot head.”

“Look there are more exaggerations,” Eddie said when he was told that.

He claimed that Matthews struck him first and that’s what caused the incident. He said he was protecting himself.

As for if he used a racial slur, he said, “I’ve never been a racist person in my life. I’m 67 years old and that’s the first conflict I ever had with a black person in my life. So, am I racist?”

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Eddie and Cooper have warrants out of Oklahoma County for their arrests.

You have a warrant out for your arrest. Are you going to turn yourself in?

“You ain’t gotta worry about what I’m going to do. I will turn myself in, I’m not scared of it,” said Eddie.

The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission told News 4 that administrative action is being taken.

“On June 1st an assault altercation occurred on the Remington Park Horse Racing Track.  Oklahoma Horse Racing Agents and Oklahoma City Police Department responded. OHRC has an on going administrative action. OCPD investigated the altercation. On September 4, 2024 warrant was issued for Eddie Willis and Cooper Willis relating to this incident.”

Counsel for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission

News 4 also reached out to Remington Park: Racing & Casino and left a message.

The document details that Matthews walked away with several injuries but is doing okay.

“It’s an unusual case. If that horse wasn’t trained he wouldn’t have listened so well,” said Jeff Damphouse.

Damphouse is an expert horse trainer who runs Jeff Damphouse Stables out of the Oklahoma City area. He said that a situation like this can happen but usually, a well-trained horse would be taught not to harm others.

“The horse is just listening in that case and it’s not about it being trained,” said Damphouse.

For years, he has taught owners and riders alike about horses. He said that many racehorses have come through his hands and he’s heard about negative incidents with horses but it being used as a weapon is rare.

“I don’t want a situation like that to bring a bad name to riders and trainers. There are so many good ones out there,” said Damphouse.

If you are interested in lessons you can contact him at his website jeffdamphouse.com or call him at 405-898-9293. His stables are located at 9800 E. Britton Road, Oklahoma City.

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