Louisiana native Joe Talamo, a former jockey who won the Eclipse Award as North America’s outstanding apprentice in 2007, enjoyed a successful riding career with 2,343 wins including 24 Grade 1 races and over $131.6 million in earnings. Growing up around horses, Talamo developed a passion for racing early on and highlighted memorable victories such as the 2009 Wood Memorial with I Want Revenge. After years of the demanding jockey lifestyle with little offseason, he chose to step away from riding to take a break and subsequently embraced a new role as a full-time host and racing analyst for FanDuel TV, where he brings insider knowledge and a jockey’s perspective to broadcasts.
Talamo emphasizes the importance of studying horses and races thoroughly to provide insightful commentary and is unafraid to offer constructive criticism when necessary. He encourages young fans to experience racing live at the track to truly appreciate the sport’s excitement and longevity. While acknowledging challenges in the industry, he remains optimistic about horse racing’s future and is currently focused on his broadcasting career, feeling fulfilled and mentally happy in this new chapter without plans to return to riding unless fully committed to competing at a high level again.
