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MEL0CHE ACCOMPLISHED CHEF Has Held Positions in Leading Hotels in the United States. Plays Eleven Instruments Despite Never Having Taken a Lesson Forming Band Among Fellow Riders NEW ORLEANS, La., Dec. 9. Increasing weight and old age hold no terror for jockey Tyrus Meloche, at present free lancing at the Fair Grounds in the jockey ranks. When he reaches the end of his riding career the French-Canadian can go back to the culinary art, as he is reputed to swing a mean skillet, and is an accomplished musician to boot. Before starting out as a jockey Meloche held down the post of second chef in the Book-Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, and those who have partaken of the food prepared by him are high in their praise of the victuals dispensed by the "Canuck." It was Meloche who gained the distinction of being the first to prepare and serve meals in the air, this being several years ago, when he prepared a breakfast in a tri-motor Fokker plane for Walter P. Chrysler, Harry F. Sinclair, Lawrence P. Fisher and the Book brothers. SERVED IN KITCHEN. Meloche served his apprenticeship in the kitchen under the nationally known chef Gerdenie Garcia, now holding forth at the Stevens Hotel in Chicago. Unlike most of the jockeys, Meloche did not begin his career until late in life, for prior to coming to the turf he functioned as head chef at the William Pitt Hotel in Chatham, Ont., dispensing such delectable morsels as court boullion, pompano pappiote, oysters a la rockefeller, trout muniere and many other dishes well known to New Orleanians, the mecca of French cooking in the western hemisphere. On a number of occasions Meloche has donned the apron and chefs cap and prepared meals for his fellow-jockeys and racing officials, and proved that he hasnt lost any of his deftness with cooking utensils. More, too, Ty has provided the musical entertainment at many parties, being- able to master eleven instruments, which include violin, xylophone, piano, accordion, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, cornet, mandolin, banjo and the saw. That Meloche is adept is evidenced by the fact, that he plays all of the instruments by ear, never having taken a lesson in his life. PLAYS VIOLIN. Having played the violin before acquiring the touch of the others mentioned above, naturally Meloche claims to excel on this instrument and quite frequently rips off a few melodies between races in the jockey quarters. Ty has led orchestras on two different occasions and is at present engaged in forming a band from among the jockeys at the Fair Grounds. The riders Meloche has enlisted and hopes to get together for several rehearsals in the near future are Harold West, who plays a Jews harp; Bobby Conley, harmonica, and Joe Cowley, guitar. A canvass will be made to enlist other jockeys who are musically-inclined. Having made the grade as chef, musician and jockey, the French-Canadian boy needs have no fear of what the future holds for him, but he intends to remain in the racing sport as long as it is possible.
