Alicia Harrison to ensure Pop's memory lives on

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Veteran Morrinsville trainer Warren Taylor is being remembered as a "brilliant horseman" and "a special man".

The 85-year-old farmer and horse breeder/trainer died in Waikato Hospital over the weekend. 

Since the early 1990s he was well-known for his association with the "Castleton" horses, training 44 winners. He also had 11 driving successes. His best performer was George Castleton who won eight including the Listed 2006 Greenlane Cup at Alexandra Park while Sapphire Castleton had 10 wins between 2010 and 2017.

 His last training success was with Topaz Castleton in August last year.

In recent times his sole horse in work has been Rebel Castleton, who's had five starts for one placing.  

"He was one of those horse whisperers," says grand-daughter and top northern junior driver Alicia Harrison.

Originally from Northland Taylor came from a big family and was a top polo player in his day, representing New Zealand.

"He was a brilliant horseman specially with breaking them in and that sort of thing. Plus he could make anything he ever wanted."

"His health had been poor for the past couple of months," says Harrison, "but he still worked the horse last Tuesday. He was as tough as they get."

Harrison had a special bond with the man she called "Pop". She lived with him on and off since she was a teenager.

"I'd do the horses before going to school."

"And then when I was at Arna's (Donnelly) I lived with him for seven years."

"I'd come home and my washing would be done and he'd have dinner on the table."

Since then she moved north to Stonewall Stud and now works at Tony Herlihy's in Papakura.

"But we would video call just about every day."

Now Harrison is going to ensure Taylor's memory lives on.

She will take over the training of Rebel Castleton and in the future will train in his blue and white colours.

"I did have my own colours but Pop thought they were a bit plain anyway," she laughs.

The new combo will debut at Alexandra Park this Friday, a day before Taylor is officially farewelled.

She hopes she can do "Pop" justice.

"I was very lucky to have him in my life."

A celebration of Warren Taylor's life will be held at Cambridge Raceway this Saturday at 1pm.