Sir Taurus

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]

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

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

Pedigree of Sir Taurus (USA), Standardbred bay, 1984[3][4][5]

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

1. "'Old friend' Sir Taurus to meet fans at Goshen". Harness Link (New Zealand). 20 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
2. "Sir Taurus" (PDF). Harness Racing/Blue Chip Farms, LLC (Lexington, Kentucky; Wallkill, New York). 1 December 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
3. "Sir Taurus H, Standardbred, 1984". All Breed Pedigree/Select Web Ventures, LLC (Encinitas, California). 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
4. "Sir Taurus". Sukuposti (Finland). 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
5. "Breeding - sale pedigree report: Royal Becca J". Standardbred Canada (Mississaugua, Ontario, Canada). 13 April 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
6. Greene, C. (17 January 2000). "Sir Taurus - An underrated son of Speedy Crown". KG Bertmarks Hingstdepa AB (Stjärnplan, Limhamn, Sweden). Retrieved 24 June 2014.
7. "Chapter Seven" (PDF). Blue Chip Farms (Wallkill, New York). Retrieved 5 July 2014.
8. "Standing his second season at Dan Gernatt Farms: Sir Taurus". Dan Gernatt Farms (Collins, New York). 1989. Missing or empty |url= (help)
9. "A day trip for Sir Taurus". Standardbred Canada (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada). 19 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
10. Fowler, R.W. (28 December 1989). "Brandwine track says it will close". Philly.com (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).
11. "Hambletonian at the Meadowlands: 2013 Hambletonian Trainers Stats: Jimmy Takter: 1987 Sir Taurus". Meadowlands Race Track. 2013. Missing or empty |url= (help)
12. "Dan Gernatt Sr., 97, dies". United States Trotting Association (Columbus, Ohio). 8 May 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
13. Flay, B. (18 September 2008). "Sir Taurus Trot NYSS Vindikate romps (video)". YouTube. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
14. "Horse detail: Texas Melody". Trotting Database. 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
15. Abbey, H.C. (1984). "Gernatt's horses plug 'Collins'". Buffalo News/Berkshire Hathaway (Buffalo, New York). Missing or empty |url= (help)
16. 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). Missing or empty |url= (help)
17. "Blue Chip Farms". Blue Chip Farms. 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
18. Livingston, B. (2014). "Standardbred old friends". Messenger Press. Missing or empty |url= (help)