Sir Taurus
| Sir Taurus | |
|---|---|
| Breed | Standardbred |
| Sire | Speedy Crown (1968) (1:57.1) ($545,495) |
| Grandsire | Speedy Scot (1960) (1:56.4) ($650,909) |
| Dam | Vanessa Hill (1972) (2:00.4f) ($112,584) |
| Damsire | Hickory Pride (1956) (1:59.2) ($166,666) |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | March 20, 1984 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Lindy Farm (Somersville, Connecticut) |
| Owner | Dan Gernatt Farms, Antonacci Family |
| Trainer | Jimmy Takter |
| Earnings | $484,810 (1986-1987) |
| Major wins | |
| 11 | |
| Awards | |
| World Champion; World record holder on half-mile track (1:57.2h) | |
| Honours | |
| Best mile rate: 1:56.3 | |
| Last updated on 2014-07-04 | |
Sir Taurus is a Standardbred harness racehorse, foaled on March 20, 1984, at Lindy Farms in Somersville, Connecticut in the United States.[1] Sir Taurus' sire was Speedy Crown, and his dam was Vanessa Hill.[2] Speedy Crown's sire was Speedy Scot, and his dam was Missile Toe; Vanessa Hill's sire was Hickory Pride, and her dam was Viola Hill.[3][4][5]
Career
Sir Taurus' winnings were $484,810, after racing for only two years in 1986 and 1987.[6] He had 11 major wins during his racing career.[2] Sir Taurus was a world champion;[7] co-holder of a world record for three-year-old colt trotters on a half-mile track with a time of 1:57.2h;[2][7] and had set six track records throughout his career at that time.[8] His fastest time for the mile was 1:56.3.[9] As a two-year-old, Sir Taurus tied or held track records at Syracuse, Pompano, and Greenwood.[8] As a three-year-old, he held track records at Brandywine Raceway,[10] Goshen, and Pocono.[8]
Sir Taurus' trainer and driver was Jimmy Takter[11] for the Antonacci family and Daniel R. Gernatt, Sr.[12] of Dan Gernatt Farms.[9] The Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York annually holds the Sir Taurus Trot for Standardbred harness racing.[13]
Progeny
Of Sir Taurus' nearly 700 offspring, Approved Action (1:54.1)[7] earned the most in winnings with $715,676.[1][9] Sir Taurus' offspring have earned $23.7 million in combined winnings.[1][9] Of all offspring of Sir Taurus (with Amanda T. Collins, a daughter of Texas[14][15]), Red Hot Blue Chip sold for the most money at $52,000 in 1999.[16]
Retirement
Said to be an easygoing horse with a gentle nature, Sir Taurus turned 30 in 2014, and is at Blue Chip Farms,[17] now retired,[18] providing school children and scouts with opportunities to visit him. On July 5, 2014, Sir Taurus appeared for photo opportunities with visitors at the horse racetrack in Goshen.[1]
Pedigree
| Sire Speedy Crown 1988 1:57.1; $545,495 |
Speedy Scot (1960) 1:56.4; $650,909 |
Speedster (1954) 4,1:59.4m; $97,184 |
Rodney (1944) 5,T1:57.2m; $111,176 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mimi Hanover (1945) 2:09h; $8,959 | |||
| Scotch Love (1954) 2,T2:04.3m; $8,345 |
Victory Song (1943) 4,1:57.3m; $73,859 | ||
| Selka Scot (1945) 4,2:13.3h; $1,408 | |||
| Missile Toe (1962) 2:05.2h; $22,362 |
Florican (1947) 1:57.2m; $152,222 |
Spud Hanover (1936) 4,2:03m; $7,917 | |
| Florimel (1938) 2,2:03½m; $16,594 | |||
| Worth A Plenty (1954) 3,T2:02.2m; $7,560 |
Darnley (1940) 4,1:59¾m; $21,565 | ||
| Sparkle Plenty (1948) 3,2:07.3h; $5,990 | |||
| Dam Vanessa Hill 1972 2:00.4f; $112,584 |
Hickory Pride (1956) 1:59.2; $166,666 |
Star's Pride (1947) 5,1:57.1m; $140,969 |
Worthy Boy (1940) 3,2:02.4m; $25,688 |
| Stardrift (1936) 6,2:03m; $6,890 | |||
| Misty Hanover (1941) 2.08.3h; $8,765 |
Dean Hanover (1934) 3,T1:58½m | ||
| Twilight Hanover (1937) | |||
| Viola Hill (1967) | B.F. Coaltown (1960) 3,T2:00.1m; $78,845 |
Galophone (1952) 4,T1:58.1m; $286,807 | |
| Sis Rodney (1951) 3,T2:05.3m; $7,066 | |||
| Vickie Hill (1961) 3,2:07.2h; $16,639 |
Victory Song (1943) 4,1:57.3m; $73,859 | ||
| Scotch Hill (1951) T2:06.1m; $12,038 |
References
- ^ a b c d "'Old friend' Sir Taurus to meet fans at Goshen". Harness Link (New Zealand). 20 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- ^ a b c "Sir Taurus" (PDF). Harness Racing/Blue Chip Farms, LLC (Lexington, Kentucky; Wallkill, New York). 1 December 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- ^ a b "Sir Taurus H, Standardbred, 1984". All Breed Pedigree/Select Web Ventures, LLC (Encinitas, California). 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- ^ a b "Sir Taurus". Sukuposti (Finland). 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- ^ a b "Breeding - sale pedigree report: Royal Becca J". Standardbred Canada (Mississaugua, Ontario, Canada). 13 April 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
- ^ Greene, C. (17 January 2000). "Sir Taurus - An underrated son of Speedy Crown". KG Bertmarks Hingstdepa AB (Stjärnplan, Limhamn, Sweden). Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- ^ a b c "Chapter Seven" (PDF). Blue Chip Farms (Wallkill, New York). Retrieved 5 July 2014.
- ^ a b c "Standing his second season at Dan Gernatt Farms: Sir Taurus". Dan Gernatt Farms (Collins, New York). 1989.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ a b c d "A day trip for Sir Taurus". Standardbred Canada (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada). 19 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- ^ Fowler, R.W. (28 December 1989). "Brandwine track says it will close". Philly.com (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).
- ^ "Hambletonian at the Meadowlands: 2013 Hambletonian Trainers Stats: Jimmy Takter: 1987 Sir Taurus". Meadowlands Race Track. 2013.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "Dan Gernatt Sr., 97, dies". United States Trotting Association (Columbus, Ohio). 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- ^ Flay, B. (18 September 2008). "Sir Taurus Trot NYSS Vindikate romps (video)". YouTube. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- ^ "Horse detail: Texas Melody". Trotting Database. 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
- ^ Abbey, H.C. (1984). "Gernatt's horses plug 'Collins'". Buffalo News/Berkshire Hathaway (Buffalo, New York).
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Summers, R.J. (13 July 2000). "Red Hot Blue Chip lives up to his name: Two-year-old takes Sire Stakes". Buffalo News/Berkshire Hathaway (Buffalo, New York).
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "Blue Chip Farms". Blue Chip Farms. 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ Livingston, B. (2014). "Standardbred old friends". Messenger Press.
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