John Thomas Taylor (September 24, 1889 – March 18, 1966), was an American horseman (thoroughbred jockey, trainer, breeder, and owner).

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.

Taylor was only 9 years old at the time, but shortly began galloping her on the nearby racetrack owned by Baker and Hines.

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.

[1] When Taylor returned from France, he began conditioning top horses for such legendary owners as Hal Price Headley (co-founder of Keeneland Race Course), Robert M. Eastman, W. Arnold Hanger, Silas B. Mason, Myron Selznick and Clifford Moores.

Taylor's fortunes turned bright in 1930 when he took over Warm Stables, owned by Silas B. Mason and W. Arnold Hanger.

That same year he conditioned Victorian to win the inaugural Agua Caliente Handicap in Tijuana, Mexico, then the world's richest race.

Strub sought Taylor's assistance in helping him recruit other owners and trainers to come out to his new track out West, called Santa Anita Park.

Such accusations were later disputed by Taylor's family as unfounded, since the horse's stumble couldn't be blamed solely on He Did or the jockey.

[16] Taylor next trained, Can't Wait, who ended up racing against Seabiscuit numerous times - including the famous 1940 Santa Anita Handicap, where he placed 8th.

"Prince" set the world record only to be disqualified by a foul claimed early on the backstretch by legendary rider, Johnny Longden.