Joseph Talamo
Encyclopedia
Joseph Talamo is a Champion
jockey
in American Thoroughbred horse racing
.
Born and raised in Marrero on the West Bank of the Mississippi River
, within the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area
, Joe Talamo was influenced by a father who worked in horse racing
as an assistant trainer
. At age eleven, he began riding horses and worked as a stable boy. Like many successful Cajun
jockeys before him, Talamo first raced at a bush track
. His skills and desire was such that he decided to leave high school in order to pursue a professional riding career. He debuted at Louisiana Downs in June 2006 and went on to become the first apprentice jockey to win a riding title at the Fair Grounds Race Course
in New Orleans.
In April 2007, during his breakout year fresh off his riding title at the Fair Grounds, Talamo moved to live in Playa del Rey, California from where he competes primarily at race tracks in the southern part of the state. He was the second leading jockey in wins during the Hollywood Park Racetrack 2007 Spring/Summer meet. For 2007, he notably earned five Grade I Graded stakes race
wins and was voted the Eclipse Award
as the 2007 United States Champion Apprentice Jockey
.
Joe Talamo has been the regular jockey on I Want Revenge
who was the favorite to win the 2009 Kentucky Derby
but the horse was scratched on the day of the race. He had said that if he wins the Derby, he is going to donate twenty-five percent of what he earns to the Children's Hospital of New Orleans
that cares for all children, regardless of a family's ability to pay. http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2009/April/21/Talamo-to-donate-25-of-earnings-if-I-Want-Revenge-wins-Derby.aspx
Talamo was one of the jockeys featured Animal Planet's 2009 reality documentary, Jockeys.
He was invited by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to participate in the Cathay Pacific International Jockey Championship in December 2009.
He jockeyed atop Sidney's Candy in the 2010 Kentucky Derby
. The horse finished in 17th place and out of the money.
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey
The Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey is an American thoroughbred horse racing honor. Created in 1971, it is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually to a jockey undergoing their apprenticeship....
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
in American Thoroughbred horse racing
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
.
Born and raised in Marrero on the West Bank of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, within the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
, Joe Talamo was influenced by a father who worked in horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
as an assistant trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
. At age eleven, he began riding horses and worked as a stable boy. Like many successful Cajun
Cajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
jockeys before him, Talamo first raced at a bush track
Bush track
Bush track is a term used in horse racing to describe unsanctioned, informal horse races run in rural areas of the United States and southern Canada. Quarter horses, ridden by amateur jockeys, are raced on makeshift tracks, often set up in the field where the horses are pastured using barrels or...
. His skills and desire was such that he decided to leave high school in order to pursue a professional riding career. He debuted at Louisiana Downs in June 2006 and went on to become the first apprentice jockey to win a riding title at the Fair Grounds Race Course
Fair Grounds Race Course
Fair Grounds Race Course, often known as New Orleans Fair Grounds, is a thoroughbred racetrack and racino in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is operated by Churchill Downs Louisiana Horseracing Company, LLC....
in New Orleans.
In April 2007, during his breakout year fresh off his riding title at the Fair Grounds, Talamo moved to live in Playa del Rey, California from where he competes primarily at race tracks in the southern part of the state. He was the second leading jockey in wins during the Hollywood Park Racetrack 2007 Spring/Summer meet. For 2007, he notably earned five Grade I Graded stakes race
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
wins and was voted the Eclipse Award
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
as the 2007 United States Champion Apprentice Jockey
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey
The Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey is an American thoroughbred horse racing honor. Created in 1971, it is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually to a jockey undergoing their apprenticeship....
.
Joe Talamo has been the regular jockey on I Want Revenge
I Want Revenge
I Want Revenge is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was one of the favorites to win the May 2, 2009 Kentucky Derby. He was sired by Grade I winner, Stephen Got Even, a son of 1992 American Horse of the Year and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, A.P. Indy...
who was the favorite to win the 2009 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
but the horse was scratched on the day of the race. He had said that if he wins the Derby, he is going to donate twenty-five percent of what he earns to the Children's Hospital of New Orleans
Children's Hospital of New Orleans
Children's Hospital of New Orleans is a non-profit children's hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana.Children's Hospital offers a wide range of inpatient and outpatient pediatric care, including a Pediatric intensive care unit, Neonatal intensive care unit, and a parenting education center. As of...
that cares for all children, regardless of a family's ability to pay. http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2009/April/21/Talamo-to-donate-25-of-earnings-if-I-Want-Revenge-wins-Derby.aspx
Talamo was one of the jockeys featured Animal Planet's 2009 reality documentary, Jockeys.
He was invited by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to participate in the Cathay Pacific International Jockey Championship in December 2009.
He jockeyed atop Sidney's Candy in the 2010 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
. The horse finished in 17th place and out of the money.
Year-end charts in the United States
| Chart (2007–present) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2007 | 14 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2008 | 36 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2009 | 19 |