John Thomas Taylor (September 24, 1889 – March 18, 1966), was an American horseman (thoroughbred jockey, trainer, breeder, and owner). Early life Taylor was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on September 24, 1889. He was the son of Reuben and Margaret Taylor. The early part of his childhood was spent on a small two-acre farm near Brighton, Ky, where he first learned to ride on the family livestock. Career Jockey Taylor's first horse was a mare named Maggie Felix, whom his father purchased in 1898. Taylor was only 9 years old at the time, but shortly began galloping her on the nearby racetrack owned by Baker and Hines. His older brother, Jerry, had already been racing horses and decided to take Maggie Felix to Newport, Kentucky, the following year to test her racing abilities. She ended up placing second in her first race, and went on to win the next four consecutive races. Maggie's success at the track was the first indication of Taylor's skill with horses. In 1902, Jerry put him under contract to work with Mr. Inghram's horses. The following year, Taylor officially started his career as a riding apprentice. He was only 14 at the time, and as a result of his youth and inexperience, he was placed on bad horses until he could prove himself as a rider. It was not until 1904, when Taylor was placed on his first good horse, named Lady Charlotte, at Fort Erie, Canada. Taylor was told it was his "make it or break it" moment. If he couldn't handle a good horse, he would never get another chance. In spite of his nerves, he managed to win his first important race. That year, he ended up being the top apprentice in both Kentucky and Canada. In 1905, Taylor was leased to Charley McCafferty and began racing for the first time in California. No longer an apprentice, he raced in meets at Lucky Baldwin's Old Santa Anita, the Fort Erie Racetrack, and Juarez Mexico up until 1909. Some of the top trainers Taylor rode for were: Johnny Ferris, Grover Baker, Peter Coyne, William J. Young, George Strate, Henry and Bill Daniels, and Ed Corrigan. As a result of "weighing out" as a jockey in 1909, Taylor turned to training horses. Taylor spent the following year in France as a wagoner, hauling ammunition to the war-front during WWI. Trainer When Taylor returned from