{{Short description|Canadian horse racing and breeding operation (1936–2009)}} {{for|the American stud farm|Windfields Farm (Maryland)}} {{Use Canadian English|date=April 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = Windfields Farm Limited | image = Main cemetery at Windfields Farm 2.jpg | type = [[Privately held company|Private]] | industry = [[Horse industry|Equine]] | services = [[Horse breeding]] and [[Thoroughbred racing|racing]] | foundation = 1936 | founder = [[E. P. Taylor|Edward Plunkett Taylor]] | defunct = 2009 | location = [[Oshawa]], [[Ontario]], Canada | key_people = 1) [[E. P. Taylor|Edward Plunkett Taylor]],<br />founder (1936–1980)<br />2) [[Charles P. B. Taylor]], owner/operator (1980–1997)<br />3) Noreen Taylor and [[Judith Mappin|Judith Taylor Mappin]], owners/operators (1997–2009)<br />'''[[Horse trainer|Hall of Fame Trainers:]]'''<br />[[Gordon J. McCann|Gordon J. "Pete" McCann]]<br />[[Horatio Luro]]<br />[[Macdonald Benson]] | divisions = [[Windfields Farm (Maryland)]] }}
'''Windfields Farm''' was a six square kilometre (1,500 [[acre]]) [[Thoroughbred]] [[Stud farm|horse breeding farm]] that was founded by businessman [[E. P. Taylor]] in [[Oshawa]], [[Ontario]], Canada.
==Origin== The first stable and breeding operation of E. P. Taylor originated with a property north of the city of [[Toronto]] on Bayview Avenue. Taylor then acquired the [[Parkwood Stable]] in Oshawa when it was offered for sale in 1950 by [[Sam McLaughlin|Colonel Sam McLaughlin]] (of [[McLaughlin Motor Car Company]] fame), and he named his new purchase the National Stud Farm. In 1969, the name was changed to Windfields Farm Limited, Oshawa Division. As population growth overtook the operation, it eventually expanded to include a second farm, [[Windfields Farm (Maryland)]] in [[Chesapeake City, Maryland]], United States.
==Northern Dancer== [[File:Northerndancer2.jpg|thumb|left|Northern Dancer]]
Windfields Farm in Ontario was the birthplace of racing great and champion [[sire]] [[Northern Dancer]], winner of the 1964 [[Kentucky Derby]] (in stakes record time), the [[Preakness Stakes]], and the [[Queen's Plate]]. Northern Dancer was retired after the 1964 racing season and started a career at [[Stud (animal)|stud]] in Ontario, before being moved in 1969<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kocher|first1=Greg|title=Northern Dancer's run: 2 minutes on the track, 50 years in Thoroughbred bloodlines|url=http://www.kentucky.com/sports/horses/kentucky-derby/article44487018.html|website=Lexington Herald Leader|access-date=27 January 2017}}</ref> to the Maryland farm. Northern Dancer's son, the English [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing|Triple Crown]] winner [[Nijinsky (horse)|Nijinsky]], was also bred by E. P. Taylor at Windfields in Ontario,<ref>{{cite web|title=Nijinsky II (Can)|url=http://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/nijinsky-ii-can.html|website=American Classic Pedigrees|access-date=27 January 2017}}</ref> as was another Northern Dancer colt, the 1977 [[Epsom Derby]] winner [[The Minstrel]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Minstrel (Can)|url=http://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/the-minstrel-can.html|website=American Classic Pedigrees|access-date=27 January 2017}}</ref>
==Decline and closure== In 1980, E. P. Taylor was incapacitated by a [[stroke]], and his son [[Charles P. B. Taylor|Charles]] took over management of Windfields Farm. E.P. Taylor died in 1989 and Charles died in 1997, after which his widow Noreen and sister [[Judith Mappin|Judith Taylor Mappin]] took charge of the business. The Maryland site was sold in 1988.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121102192105/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1274692.html HighBeam]</ref>
The downsizing that began following the death of E. P. Taylor resulted in large portions of Windfields Farm being sold to the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (now [[Ontario Tech University]]) and [[Durham College]], which erected sports fields and parking lots on the farm's southeast corner. Farmlands on the east side of Simcoe Street became housing developments. By 2008, the once-vast estate (that at its peak was home to more than 600 thoroughbreds) had devolved to just a small private farm.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/722053--last-gallop-for-legendary-windfields-farm | location=Toronto | work=The Star | first=Mary | last=Ormsby | title=Last gallop for legendary Windfields Farm | date=November 6, 2009}}</ref>
In November 2009, the Windfields Farm breeding operations were wound up. Its [[broodmare]]s and [[weanling]]s were sent to be auctioned at the [[Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society]] Winter Mixed Sale.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cthsont.com/news.php?news_item_id=670|title=Breeder of the Month - Windfields Farm|work=Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Ontario Division|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130120075215/http://www.cthsont.com/news.php?news_item_id=670|archive-date=January 20, 2013|access-date=December 26, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Post closure== [[File:Stable at Windfields Farm in Oshawa.jpg|thumb|Stables]]
In the fall of 2012, the City of Oshawa became an ally to the cause for proper respect for the Windfields Farm property and its legacy. At the behest of the city, [[UOIT]] agreed to form a "Community Advisory Group".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://app.oshawa.ca/agendas/Development_Services/2012/05-07/DS_12_161_UOIT_Windfields_Memorial.pdf|title=City of Oshawa to form community advisory group for Windfields Farm lands|website=City Of Oshawa|access-date=14 January 2018}}</ref>
In 2016, the city of Oshawa followed up on some earlier plans with a "Proposed Program for Honouring the Windfields Farm Legacy" <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://app.oshawa.ca/agendas/development_services/2016/02-08/REPORT_DS-16-23.pdf|title=Proposed Program for Honouring the Windfields Farm Legacy|website=City of Oshawa Development Services|access-date=14 January 2018}}</ref> document detailing some studies funded by an earlier controversial<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.positivediscussions.com/2013/12/minto-demolishes-oshawa-landmark.html|title=Minto Demolishes Oshawa Landmark|last=Rosemary|first=McConkey|date=December 20, 2013|access-date=14 January 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114183736/http://www.positivediscussions.com/2013/12/minto-demolishes-oshawa-landmark.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> donation of $150,000 by Minto Developments. The results, under the banner "Program for Honouring the Windfields Farm Legacy" were adopted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oshawa.ca/city-hall/windfields-farm-legacy.asp|title=Windfields Farm Legacy|website=City Of Oshawa|access-date=14 January 2018}}</ref>
After the sale of Windfields Farm, the burial site of Northern Dancer and other Windfields thoroughbreds of the farm was not publicly accessible for many years, at one point becoming covered in weeds.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 21, 2014 |title=Northern Dancer: The Canadian Super Horse that Nobody Wanted |url=http://www.horse-canada.com/horses-and-history/northern-dancer-the-canadian-super-horse-that-nobody-wanted/ |access-date=April 8, 2025 |website=horse-canada.com}}</ref> On April 16, 2018, Northern Dancer's grave became an official heritage site under the ''[[Ontario Heritage Act]]'', with funds presented by the City of Oshawa to landscape the surrounding area.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 April 2018 |title=Northern Dancer: Little horse, big legacy |url=http://oshawaexpress.ca/northern-dancer-little-horse-big-legacy/ |access-date=8 April 2025 |website=The Oshawa Express |language=en-CA}}</ref>
==Former paddock lands development== [[File:Stable at Windfields Farm in Oshawa 2.jpg|thumb|left|Stables]]
In 2018, development of the majority of what used to be paddocks and open fields to the north of the core of the farm (some {{convert|115|acres|ha}}) began on a new residential neighbourhood, with several streets now bordering onto the core of the farm itself. A large retail complex is also planned for the northeast portion of this section of property.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://investor.riocan.com/English/investor-relations/press-releases/press-release-details/2017/RioCan-REIT-Announces-Commencement-of-Residential-Development-at-Windfields-Farm/default.aspx|title=RioCan REIT Announces Commencement of Residential Development at Windfields Farm|access-date=January 14, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114183946/http://investor.riocan.com/English/investor-relations/press-releases/press-release-details/2017/RioCan-REIT-Announces-Commencement-of-Residential-Development-at-Windfields-Farm/default.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Burials at Windfields Farm== {{multiple image|align=right|total_width=320|image1=Northern Dancer grave stone.jpg|image2=Main cemetery at Windfields Farm 1.jpg|footer=Northern Dancer's grave and the main cemetery}}
A non-exhaustive list of thoroughbred burials at Windfields Farm in Oshawa include:{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} * [[Archers Bay]] (1995–2002) * [[Canadiana (horse)|Canadiana]] (1950–1971) * [[New Providence (horse)|New Providence]] (1956–1981) * [[Northern Dancer]] (1961–1990) * [[South Ocean (horse)|South Ocean]] (1967–1989) * [[Vice Regent]] (1967–1995) * [[Victoria Park (horse)|Victoria Park]] (1957–1985) * [[Windfields]] (1943–1969)
==Windfields Estate== {{Commons category|2489 Bayview Windfields House before CFC}} Windfields Estate was the home of [[E. P. Taylor]] and was situated at 2489 Bayview Avenue in [[North York|North York, Ontario]], a suburb of Toronto. It now houses the [[Canadian Film Centre]], founded by filmmaker [[Norman Jewison]]. The {{convert|10|ha|acre|abbr=off}} estate has been preserved as a heritage site.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.tbheritage.com/TurfHallmarks/Graves/cem/GraveMattersWindfields.html Grave Matters: Windfields Farm] at the [[National Sporting Library|National Sporting Library's]] Thoroughbred Heritage website * [http://www.windfields.com/ Windfields Farm official website - Now defunct, no longer serves website] . Wayback Machine archive can be located [https://web.archive.org/web/20060105170530/http://www.windfields.com:80/ here]. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100105144626/http://ntra.com/stats_bios.aspx?id=3407 Windfields Farm at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA)] * [http://www.cthsont.com/docs/WindfieldsMajorStakesWinners.pdf Major Stakes Winners/Champions bred by Windfields & E.P. Taylor]{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}
{{coord|43|57|13.9|N|78|53|56.5|W|region:CA-ON_type:landmark|display=title}}
[[Category:Canadian racehorse owners and breeders]] [[Category:Owners of King's Plate winners]] [[Category:Owners of Kentucky Derby winners]] [[Category:Breeders of Kentucky Derby winners]] [[Category:Owners of Preakness Stakes winners]] [[Category:Breeders of Preakness Stakes winners]] [[Category:Breeders of Epsom Derby winners]] [[Category:American racehorse owners and breeders]] [[Category:Horse farms in Canada]] [[Category:Estate gardens in Canada]] [[Category:Oshawa]] [[Category:1936 establishments in Ontario]] [[Category:2009 disestablishments in Ontario]]