Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-08-09
THE TURF KING.
Fred Taral, His Romantic Career
and Beautiful Home.
A Jockey with No Bad Habits-He Is a
Home Man-Tarars Immense In
come and How He Han
dies 1t.
lcoPYR1eHr. 1921


"Hail, Fred Taral, king of the turf''
Twenty thousand voices echoed and
re-echoed the loud acclaim Of victory.
1t was Suburban day, and Fred Taral,
the greatest of American jockeys, had
just won the browning triumph of his
remarkable career. lie had accom-
plished what no other rider had ever
done-captured in rapid succession the
three classic events of the year, the
Brooklyn Handicap, Metropolitan and
Suburban races.
Taral was by long odds the coolest
and most self-posscssed man at Sleeps
head Bay on that eyentful day. True.
his broad pale face was a bit flushed
with gratifed pride, and his honest
blue eyes sparlIled with unconcealed
JOY, but ae was an iceberg as far as
outward and visible signs went, and
Chesterfield in bearing, compared to
the wild, frenzied mob which cheered
his victory, and which bore him aloft
in triumph to the paddock.
And how did this prince of jockeys,
this equine monarch celebrate the day
which marked an epoch in the history
of his life as well as in the history Of
the American turf? In flowing bump
ers Of wine at the track, and in a Sat
urnaSa on his triumphant return TO the
city?
Far from IT. Fred Taral is a home
man. Venus, no more than Bacchus
has any charms for him. His home is
his kingdom, his pretty little wife its
,rsoar oy,J bfe Fn,,,.- --l,a--CIt1 I,I.-. H..
its tiny prince royal As soon as he
could break away from his admirers,
Jockey Taral made for his home and to
his comely helpmeet retold the story
Of the race. At nine o'clock be was in
bed. At daybrealx he was of for Chi
cago to take part III the Derby.
But il is of the home life Of Amer
iea's premier jockey, and not Of his
triumphs on the turf, that propose to
speak. The public side Of his life is
known to all men who have q drop of
sporting blood in their veins. His
favorite side is known to few.
Fred Taral owns and lives in one OF
the cosiest houses In the upper portion
of New York. 1t is situated on the
northwest corner of Lenox avenue and
One Hundred and Thirtieth street. As
viii be seen by the accompanying cut,
il is Queer Anne structure, three sto-
ries in height, and OF double width
where it faces on the avenue Taral
purchased 1t three years ago for thirty
thousand dollars. and he spent five
thousand more in fitting it up. To-day
1t could not be purchased for forty
thousand dollars. Besides all modern
improvements, it contains a Turkish
bath which is inferior to none in any
private residence in New York. The
appointments Of the house are perfect.
The reception-room, pariors, dining
room. billiard-room, smolzing-room and
sleeping apartments are exquisitely
furnished and tastefullv decorated |
Fine paintings and pretty etchings
ado:n he walls Of the principal apart
ments. They cover q variety If sub
jects. from winter scene in Russia to
a landscape view of Che highlands Of /
the Hudson 1t Is oaly ia the smoking /
room, Tarals favoritc resting-place, /
when at home that pictures of famous /
thorough may be seen. Here the /
walls fairly tenn with mimic repre-
sensations Of the great horses he has I
ridden to victory Throughout the /
entire mansion for such 1t is, although /
called a Queen Anne cottage are
everywhere manifest indications of re- |