E. P. Taylor
A Canadian industrialist who built a corporate empire and then reshaped the global thoroughbred racing landscape with his breeding genius.
1901–1989 (age 88)·Canadian business tycoon, investor and philanthropist·Birthday: January 29·The Greatest Generation
Biography
E.P. Taylor was a force of nature in Canadian business, a master consolidator who assembled a sprawling empire of breweries, distilleries, and manufacturing firms under the Argus Corporation banner. His Midas touch in the boardroom, however, was rivaled only by his passion on the turf. Taylor didn't just own racehorses; he revolutionized the industry. He founded the Windfields Farm breeding operation, applying a systematic, almost industrial approach to bloodlines. His vision materialized in Northern Dancer, a colt he bred and owned who became the most influential sire of the 20th century. Taylor's drive extended to the infrastructure of the sport, leading the creation of the Ontario Jockey Club and building modern tracks like Woodbine. He lived a life of colossal scale, moving from corporate battles to the pastoral drama of the breeding shed, leaving a permanent stamp on both Canada's economy and the international sport of kings.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
E. was born in 1901, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When E. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1901
E.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1901Born
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1906Started school
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1914Became a teenager
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1917Could drive
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Could vote
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Turned 21
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1931Turned 30
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1941Turned 40
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1951Turned 50
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 60
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 70
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 80
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Died at 88
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
Key Achievements
- Bred and owned Northern Dancer, the preeminent sire in thoroughbred racing history.
- Founded Windfields Farm, one of the world's most successful thoroughbred breeding operations.
- Built the modern Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto and served as Chairman of the Ontario Jockey Club.
- Formed the Argus Corporation, a dominant Canadian holding company with interests across industries.
Did You Know?
He was instrumental in establishing the Breeders' Stakes, completing Canada's Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.
During World War II, he served as the Canadian government's director-general of munitions production.
His nickname among friends was 'Eddie,' though he was universally known in business as E.P. Taylor.
The E.P. Taylor Stakes, a major Grade 1 race for fillies and mares, is named in his honor at Woodbine.
“A business is like a horse: you breed it, train it, and run it to win.”
