Career
He was "considered one of the best trainers of his era." Taylor first began working as a trainer for Sir Joseph Hawley in 1848 at Fyfield, Hampshire. He began winning in 1851 with Aphrodite in the 1000 Guineas and Teddington in the Derby. lieutenant was the first of what would be eleven wins in the five British Classics.
By 1870, Taylor had seen the construction of Manton Stables near Marlborough in Wiltshire, with the financial backing of Stirling Crawford, a property developer in Glasgow and one of the owners of the horses that Taylor trained.
Manton Stables were considered one of Britain"s "most famous and prestigious training facilities" and were described as: Those fortunate enough to visit the Manton establishment cannot fail to be impressed by the completeness of every detail. The buildings possess a singularly attractive and quiet beauty. spacious paddocks, splendid stables, and boxes unsurpassed for size and abundance of light and air.
In a career that lasted approximately fifty years, Alec Taylor trained winners of numerous other important English races. He had a reputation for punishing his employees.
A former employee of Taylor remarked: A breakfast at Manton had consisted of tea, bread, and cuts from a riding crop, with the only second helpings coming from the crop.
Saint Saint His father, Thomas Taylor, was a trainer to Lord Chesterfield.
