Brian Taylor (jockey)
Encyclopedia
Brian Taylor (July 6, 1939 - December 8, 1984) was a successful jockey
in Thoroughbred
horse racing
best known for riding Snow Knight
to victory in the 1974 Epsom Derby
.
Taylor was born in Southend-on-Sea
, in Essex
, England
. Among his other career wins were the Princess Margaret Stakes
(1971), Cherry Hinton Stakes
(1971), Cork and Orrery Stakes (1973), Earl of Sefton Stakes
(1977), Sandown Classic Trial
(1978), July Cup
(1971), Derby Stakes (1974, on Snow Knight
), John Porter Stakes
(1981), Ormonde Stakes
(1981), Craven Stakes
(1983), and in France
, the Prix Gontaut-Biron
(1984).
While racing at the Sha Tin Racecourse
in Hong Kong
on December 8, 1984, his mount, Silver Star (銀星一號), stumbled, throwing him off his saddle while crossing the finish line. Taylor would succumb two days later in hospital from the serious neck and head injuries he had received.
Taylor was suffering from shingles that day, and wanted someone else to replace him for that race. At the last minute, however, he decided to do the race himself which turned out to be his last.
Less than 10 months before Taylor's fall, Silver Star also ended the career of another top jockey at the time, Frenchman Philippe Paquet
, by throwing the jockey onto the turf during morning training on February 13, 1984, in similar fashion. Paquet suffered a fractured skull and remained in a coma for more than three months before regaining consciousness.
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
in Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
best known for riding Snow Knight
Snow Knight
Snow Knight was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won Britain's most prestigious race in 1974, the Epsom Derby, then the following year earned an Eclipse Award as the American Champion Male Turf Horse.-Background:...
to victory in the 1974 Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
.
Taylor was born in Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort in Essex, England. The district has Borough status, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, North Shoebury, Prittlewell, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, and Westcliff-on-Sea. The district is situated...
, in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Among his other career wins were the Princess Margaret Stakes
Princess Margaret Stakes
The Princess Margaret Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
(1971), Cherry Hinton Stakes
Cherry Hinton Stakes
The Cherry Hinton Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
(1971), Cork and Orrery Stakes (1973), Earl of Sefton Stakes
Earl of Sefton Stakes
The Earl of Sefton Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 1 furlong , and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid April.The event was established in 1971, and...
(1977), Sandown Classic Trial
Sandown Classic Trial
The Sandown Classic Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April.The event was established in 1953, and it...
(1978), July Cup
July Cup
The July Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
(1971), Derby Stakes (1974, on Snow Knight
Snow Knight
Snow Knight was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won Britain's most prestigious race in 1974, the Epsom Derby, then the following year earned an Eclipse Award as the American Champion Male Turf Horse.-Background:...
), John Porter Stakes
John Porter Stakes
The John Porter Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 5 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April....
(1981), Ormonde Stakes
Ormonde Stakes
The Ormonde Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Chester over a distance of 1 mile, 5 furlongs and 89 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
(1981), Craven Stakes
Craven Stakes
The Craven Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid April.The event serves as a trial for the first...
(1983), and in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the Prix Gontaut-Biron
Prix Gontaut-Biron
The Prix Gontaut-Biron is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
(1984).
While racing at the Sha Tin Racecourse
Sha Tin Racecourse
Sha Tin Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in Sha Tin in the New Territories. It is managed by Hong Kong Jockey Club.Penfold Park is encircled by the track.-History:...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on December 8, 1984, his mount, Silver Star (銀星一號), stumbled, throwing him off his saddle while crossing the finish line. Taylor would succumb two days later in hospital from the serious neck and head injuries he had received.
Taylor was suffering from shingles that day, and wanted someone else to replace him for that race. At the last minute, however, he decided to do the race himself which turned out to be his last.
Less than 10 months before Taylor's fall, Silver Star also ended the career of another top jockey at the time, Frenchman Philippe Paquet
Philippe Paquet
Philippe Paquet is a former jockey from France, who in 1974 was the winner of the Prix du Jockey Club on Caracolero, and the Gran Premio d'Italia on Ribecourt. In 1976, he also won the Irish Derby on Malacate, and the Irish Oaks on Lagunette....
, by throwing the jockey onto the turf during morning training on February 13, 1984, in similar fashion. Paquet suffered a fractured skull and remained in a coma for more than three months before regaining consciousness.