| Horsename: | 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: | 20 March 1984 |
| Colour: | Bay |
| Breeder: | Lindy Farm (Somersville, Connecticut) |
| Owner: | Dan Gernatt Farms, Antonacci Family |
| Trainer: | Jimmy Takter |
| Earnings: | $484,810 (1986-1987) |
| Wins: | 11 |
| Awards: | World Champion; World record holder on half-mile track (1:57.2h) |
| Honours: | Best mile rate: 1:56.3 |
| Updated: | 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]
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. 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; and had set six track records throughout his career at that time. His fastest time for the mile was 1:56.3. As a two-year-old, Sir Taurus tied or held track records at Syracuse, Pompano, and Greenwood. As a three-year-old, he held track records at Brandywine Raceway,[8] Goshen, and Pocono.[9]
Sir Taurus' trainer and driver was Jimmy Takter[10] for the Antonacci family and Daniel R. Gernatt, Sr.[11] of Dan Gernatt Farms. The Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York annually holds the Sir Taurus Trot for Standardbred harness racing.[12]
Of Sir Taurus' nearly 700 offspring, Approved Action (1:54.1) earned the most in winnings with $715,676.[13] Sir Taurus' offspring have earned $23.7 million in combined winnings. 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]
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.