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]
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]
^ abc"Chapter Seven"(PDF). Blue Chip Farms (Wallkill, New York). Retrieved 5 July 2014.
^ abc"Standing his second season at Dan Gernatt Farms: Sir Taurus". Dan Gernatt Farms (Collins, New York). 1989. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
^ abcd"A day trip for Sir Taurus". Standardbred Canada (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada). 19 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
^"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.
^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)