Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred thoroughbred racehorse. A bay colt born May 27, 1961, by Nearctic-Natalma, by Native Dancer.
In 1952, Edward P. Taylor, Canadian business magnate and owner of Winfields Farm, had attended the December sale at Newmarket, England where he purchased Lady Angela, a mare in foal to Nearco. Two years later she was bred again with Nearco, producing a colt named Nearctic. From the first crop of Nearctic, Taylor bred Northern Dancer.
Northern Dancer stood at Taylor's stud farm in Maryland until his retirement and was the most successful sire in thoroughbred horse-racing history. His offspring have earned more money and won more major stakes races than those of any other sire, including North American and European champions. He sired 146 stakes winners including the great Nijinsky II, winner of England's Triple Crown, as well as The Minstrel, Shareef Dancer, El Gran Senor, Secreto, Fanfreluche and multiple champion sire Sadler's Wells.
Northern Dancer was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1976. He was retired from stud (breeding) on April 15, 1987 at the age of 26. He died on November 16, 1990 and is memorialized at Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.