| 
Northern Dancer and E.P. Taylor
E.P. Taylor
|
No one wanted to buy Northern Dancer at his
yearling sale in 1962. He was small, little bigger than the
average pony, and had a willful, unpredictable nature. But
E.P. Taylor, beer baron and Canada's first great entrepreneur,
recognized a kindred spirit. He took on the little horse and
helped him become a "great Canadian." This is the
first time an animal has ever been profiled on Life and Times,
fitting for this "Canadian" who broke so many records
and inspired a nation to name him 1964 Canadian Athlete of
the Year, over such competition as Gordie Howe and George
Chuvalo.
See rare archival footage of Northern Dancer and EP Taylor
at Windfields Farm in the 1960s and 70s and listen to the
legendary jockey Ron Turcotte reflect on the infamous and
controversial race that forced Northern Dancer's retirement.
See what racetracks were like at the turn of the century and
get a behind the scenes glimpse into what happens at the backstretch,
before a horse can claim his winner's roses. Hear E.P. Taylor's
daughter, Judith Mappin, describe the world of Canadian racing
when it was in its infancy, her mother’s love of Northern
Dancer and her father's canny decision not to geld his favourite
horse, no matter how difficult he was to handle.
Northern Dancer became the greatest sire of the 20th century
after he stopped racing. He sired 146 stakes winners, among
them Nijinsky, The Minstrel, Nureyev, El Gran Senor, Secreto,
etc. Even Smarty Jones, winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby
is a great great grandson. No other horse on the planet has
had such an influence on racing bloodlines. In 1982, a French
syndicate offered $40 million for Northern Dancer, but they
were turned down. This patriarch of the modern thoroughbred
would remain Canadian.
Viewers will witness the beauty of a creature born to run
and experience the excitement of a younger nation swept up
in the thrill of creating its own myths. Canada was a place
that saw itself as a workhorse, not a thoroughbred, until
Northern Dancer raced his way into our hearts. This Life and
Times profiles the fleet creature that taught Canadians to
think of themselves as a nation that produces not only winners
but also legends.
Original Air Date - March 31, 2005
E.P Taylor (left) and Bill Hartack
on Northern Dancer
1964 Kentucky Derby win
Links
Racehorce
Northern Dancer dies (CBC archives)
Northern
Dancer (Thoroughbred Champions)
Northern
Dancer (Thoroughbred Times)
Northern
Dancer (Canadian Collections)
(Note: CBC does not endorse the content of external
sites)
|
