He is best known as the owner and breeder of the great Northern Dancer, who was the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby and later became one of the most dominant sires in Thoroughbred history.
[2] Taylor also bred the mare South Ocean, who won the Canadian Oaks in 1970 and later produced eight winners from twelve foals.
When bred to Northern Dancer, South Ocean first produced Northernette, followed a few years later by champion and important sire Storm Bird.
"[4] Northernette was purchased at auction by the partnership of Syl Asadoorian and Sam Cosentino who raced her from a base at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.
[5] Northernette then went up against her male counterparts in Canada's most important race, the Queen's Plate, and finished second to Sound Reason by a half length.
Racing Hall of Fame trainer, Frank Whiteley, whose son David, as well as Shug McGaughey, were both working as his assistants.
Later in the season, Northernette finished second to American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Tempest Queen in the Spinster Stakes at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky.
[7] South Ocean and Northernette were both named reines-de-course, a term for influential broodmares, by pedigree expert Ellen Parker.