The Jockey, Fred Taral (100517_013)

The Jockey, Fred Taral (1867-1925)

Artist – unknown in 1897
Albumen photographic image
Image size 8” x 5” (framed 13½” x 10½”)
Ref. No. 100517_013
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Photograph of Fred Taral after riding Hamburg (1895-1915) as a two-year old to victory in the Great Eastern Handicap in 1897 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in New York City. A period inscription identifies the event. Two years later, Taral rode Manuel to win his third Kentucky Derby. Previously in 1895 he rode Belmar to victory in the Belmont Stakes. Taral’s career from 1883 to 1908 had 1437 wins from 6,106 mounts. In 1955 when the United States Racing Hall of Fame was created, Fred Taral was an original inductee.

This image is from the household collection of John Madden at Hamburg Place Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. The horse Hamburg won 12 of 16 starts as a two year old. He was sold the winter before his three-year old season to Marcus Daly for $40,000. Coupling Hamburg’s winnings from the previous season of the same amount to this substantial price enabled John Madden to purchase a 235-acre farm on Winchester Road. Madden would later expand the farm to 2,000 acres and acknowledge the one who aided him by naming it Hamburg Place.