Frederick J. Taral (August 2, 1867 – February 13, 1925) was an American

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Jockey career

Taral began his career in racing in the 1880s at small

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s in

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. In 1883, he rode his first competitive thoroughbred in a race at Washington Park. By 1889 he was among the 24-member jockey colony at the

Fair Grounds Race Course Fair Grounds Race Course, often known as New Orleans Fair Grounds, is a thoroughbred racetrack and racino in New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana. It is operated by Churchill Downs Louisiana Horseracing Company, LLC. The ''Carrollton Race Cours ...

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and competed in his first

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby () is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of . Colt (horse), Colts and geldin ...

. According to The

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, he was the highest-earning jockey in the US in 1894, with an estimated combined payout of US$20,000. Reports published at the time suggested he had even completed one season with a broken arm. New York State's passage of the Hart–Agnew anti-betting law in 1908 resulted in racetracks statewide struggling to stay in business. As a result, many stable owners, trainers, and jockeys began leaving to work in Europe. Fred Taral left racing in the United States and riding in

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won the 1908 Königspreis (King's Prize), the most important race in that country. He also rode and trained in Germany where he rode Macdonald to victory in the 1909 Deutsches Derby. He returned home following the outbreak of World War I. For owner James R. Keene, Taral rode future Hall of Famers

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and Henry of Navarre. He also rode Domino against Henry of Navarre to a

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in an 1894

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. On different horses, that year Taral won the

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, capturing the

Brooklyn Handicap The Brooklyn Stakes (formerly known as the Brooklyn Handicap) is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on Long Island. It currently is a Grade II event open to four-year-olds and up willing to race one and ...

Metropolitan Handicap The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile", is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile (8 furl ...

and the

Suburban Handicap The Suburban Stakes (also known Suburban Handicap) is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is now run at the mile distance on dirt for a $350,000 pu ...

. In all, Taral won the Brooklyn Handicap on three occasions and the Metropolitan Handicap twice. He was also a two-time winner of the Travers,

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and

Withers Stakes The Withers Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old horses over the distance of miles on the dirt scheduled annually in February at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $2 ...

. In the pre- Triple Crown era, Fred Taral had back-to-back wins in the

Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland (except in 2026 when it will move to Laurel Park (race track), Laurel Park dur ...

. He first won it in 1894 aboard

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and in 1895 he won his second Preakness plus the

Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over the worldwide classic distance of . Colt (horseracing), Colt ...

with the colt Belmar. In 1899 he won the Kentucky Derby aboard

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Training career

Following his retirement from riding in 1908, Fred Taral pursued a career as a trainer. Among his clients was the Riviera Stable owned by Victor Vivaudou for whom he trained notable runners Fabian and Miss Star.''New York Times'' – September 16, 1922
/ref> Fred Taral died of

pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...

in 1925. He was buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, New York. In 1955 he was part of the inaugural class inducted into the newly created United States Racing Hall of Fame.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taral, Fred 1867 births 1925 deaths American jockeys Sportspeople from Peoria, Illinois American people of French descent United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees