Born in Toronto, he studied at Park School and Upper Canada College. In the early 1870s, Davies married Margaret Matilda Taylor, the daughter of John Taylor, owner of paper mills in Todmorden Mills, Ontario, just north of Toronto. By the turn of the century, they had nine children and owned a large home at 244 Don Mills Road (now Broadview/O'Connor) in Todmorden Mills, which they called "Chester Park".
Davies' brother Thomas Davies owned the Don Brewery at Queen Street near the Don River, which Robert helped manage. In 1877, Robert Davies founded the competing Dominion Brewery only two blocks to the west on Queen Street. Ten years later, his success led to the selling of shares in the company to a group of investors arranged by a banking house in London, England.
In 1901, after his wife's family encountered financial difficulties, Davies acquired most of the Taylor family's holdings in the Don Valley, including two paper mills and the Don Valley Brick Works. By the time of his death in 1916, Davies was one of the wealthiest people in Toronto.
Horse racingedit
As a boy, Davies developed a love for horse racing and for a while was a jockey in Thoroughbred flat racing. In 1865 at the racetrack in London, Ontario, the then sixteen-year-old rode in that year's edition of the Queen's Plate. He soon turned to training his own horses and at age twenty-two raced and trained Floss, which won the 1871 edition of the Plate. The following year, a horse he bred named Fearnaught won the Plate. As of 2008, Davies is the only person ever to ride in the Queen's Plate as well as own, train and breed winners of that race.
In 1888, Davies had purchased a large property in the Don Valley from his father-in-law, on which he established a breeding operation that he dubbed Thorncliffe Farms. He raced horses both in Thoroughbred flat racing and in harness racing under the nom de course of Thorncliffe Stable.
Davies served as president of the Canadian Horse Breeder's Association. A vice-president of the Ontario Jockey Club from 1895 to 1904, he unsuccessfully lobbied for the lifting of the rule that prevented horses foaled outside of the province of Ontario from competing in the King's Plate.
Davies' Dominion Brewery complex at Queen Street East and Sumach Street continued until 1936. The brewery complex was renovated from 1987 to 1990 and is now called Dominion Square (and used by Vistek as commercial office space), while the old Dominion Hotel is now home to the pub Dominion on Queen.
Referencesedit
Robert Davies at the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
Thorncliffe Park history from the Toronto real estate Board
The Don and The Dominion Breweries
History of the Taylor/Davies properties and businesses in the Don Valley
December 02, 2023
robert, davies, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, march, 2013, learn, when, re. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Robert T Davies May 19 1849 March 22 1916 was a Canadian businessman as well as a Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorse owner and breeder Robert T DaviesBorn 1849 05 19 May 19 1849Toronto Canada WestDiedMarch 22 1916 1916 03 22 aged 66 Toronto OntarioResting placeMount Pleasant Cemetery TorontoEducationUpper Canada CollegeOccupation s BusinessmanRacehorse owner breederSpouseMargaret Matilda TaylorChildrenGeorge b 1875 Carolyn b 1878 Robert b 1879 Louise b 1883 Norman b 1886 Adelia b 1888 Wilfred b 1889 Melville b 1891 Leslie b 1895 HonorsCanadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame 2001 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Horse racing 3 Death and legacy 4 ReferencesLife and career editBorn in Toronto he studied at Park School and Upper Canada College In the early 1870s Davies married Margaret Matilda Taylor the daughter of John Taylor owner of paper mills in Todmorden Mills Ontario just north of Toronto By the turn of the century they had nine children and owned a large home at 244 Don Mills Road now Broadview O Connor in Todmorden Mills which they called Chester Park Davies brother Thomas Davies owned the Don Brewery at Queen Street near the Don River which Robert helped manage In 1877 Robert Davies founded the competing Dominion Brewery only two blocks to the west on Queen Street Ten years later his success led to the selling of shares in the company to a group of investors arranged by a banking house in London England In 1901 after his wife s family encountered financial difficulties Davies acquired most of the Taylor family s holdings in the Don Valley including two paper mills and the Don Valley Brick Works By the time of his death in 1916 Davies was one of the wealthiest people in Toronto Horse racing editAs a boy Davies developed a love for horse racing and for a while was a jockey in Thoroughbred flat racing In 1865 at the racetrack in London Ontario the then sixteen year old rode in that year s edition of the Queen s Plate He soon turned to training his own horses and at age twenty two raced and trained Floss which won the 1871 edition of the Plate The following year a horse he bred named Fearnaught won the Plate As of 2008 Davies is the only person ever to ride in the Queen s Plate as well as own train and breed winners of that race Davies purchased the filly Southern Maid from a Kentucky breeder John E Madden A daughter of 1898 Kentucky Derby winner Plaudit Southern Maid was voted the retrospective American Champion Two Year Old Filly of 1913 As a broodmare for the Davies family she produced the 1922 King s Plate winner South Shore In 1888 Davies had purchased a large property in the Don Valley from his father in law on which he established a breeding operation that he dubbed Thorncliffe Farms He raced horses both in Thoroughbred flat racing and in harness racing under the nom de course of Thorncliffe Stable Davies served as president of the Canadian Horse Breeder s Association A vice president of the Ontario Jockey Club from 1895 to 1904 he unsuccessfully lobbied for the lifting of the rule that prevented horses foaled outside of the province of Ontario from competing in the King s Plate Death and legacy editIn 1916 Davies died at Chester Park and was buried at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto For his contributions to the industry he was inducted in 2001 into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in the Builders category His estate sold Thorncliffe Farms to a group of investors from Baltimore Maryland who built Thorncliffe Park Raceway on the site Davies Dominion Brewery complex at Queen Street East and Sumach Street continued until 1936 The brewery complex was renovated from 1987 to 1990 and is now called Dominion Square and used by Vistek as commercial office space while the old Dominion Hotel is now home to the pub Dominion on Queen References editRobert Davies at the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Thorncliffe Park history from the Toronto real estate Board The Don and The Dominion Breweries History of the Taylor Davies properties and businesses in the Don Valley Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert T Davies amp oldid 1127566551, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
