Charles TAYLOR
Obituary

Noted Centenarian Horseman Passes Away at 103.

Charles Taylor, known throughout the United States as the oldest driver and trainer of fast horses, died at his home in White River Junction Saturday, aged 103 years. He had been failing for several weeks past. He drove his first trotting race at the age of 15 years and his last race in 1902 at the age of 96. Since that time he had followed the principal fairs from Canada to the South, driving exhibition miles. At the Vermont state fair in October he attracted much attention by an exhibition of fast driving which was his last appearance on the race track. Mr. Taylor was born at Williamstown, Canada. He was the son of German parents, who had come from Heidelberg and made their home in the sparsely settled wilds of what was then western Canada. He descended from a family noted for longevity and he used to boast that his maternal grandmother lived to be 112 years old. Brought up where the horse was the only means of getting from place to place over the rough roads, young Taylor learned to ride at an early age, handling horses, getting part of his practice from riding the horses of British soldiers in a camp near his home. Races with other lads of the neighborhood, each riding his favorite horse, were frequent. Young Taylor was brought in contact with traders and drovers through his love for horses and his ability to manage them, and he traveled through Canada when he was old enough to leave home, extending his trips to the states. His love for racing horses was not lost in trading, and on public holidays and gatherings of the countryside he would take part in the running races which were usually on the program. In those days there were no regular tracks, and the races were run in the open fields, where the horse that came in first was the winner and took'the money prize, there being no second or third prize. When trotting came in vogue and tracks were laid out, Mr. Taylor drifted to the driving race and handled the reins over many famous horses. In racing he traveled back and forth from Canada to New' York and in the times between races he bought and sold horses for Gen. Dunham and Sam Sogue of Albany. He was employed later by Hiram Woodruff at the Union course, Long Island, where Dexter was being trained, as was Miller’s Damsel, which he drove for some time in races in New Orleans, Mobile, Savannah and other Southern cities. Just before the Civil war broke out be was driving the mare in Augusta, Ga., and bought her, but seeing trouble coming he brought her north to White River Junction, Vt. There he made the acquaintance of Charles B. Ballard, a prominent turfman, and for 53 years without a break the friendship which resulted from this meeting continued. Making his headquarters at the Ballard farm, Mr. Taylor drove Snowfiake and other famous horses at the various meets. In all he won 1700 races in his long career. Mr. Taylor never married.



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