Joe Talamo returns to the saddle, back where he first began building his legacy

After more than two years away from race riding, the American jockey will return to Fair Grounds, where he was once champion apprentice and launched a career totaling 2,343 victories and 24 Grade 1 wins. He credits his time as a racing analyst with making him a sharper professional

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (From a special correspondent).— Some places never stop feeling like home. For Joe Talamo, Fair Grounds is one of them. Nearly two decades after bursting onto the scene there as one of American racing’s brightest young sensations, the veteran rider has decided to return to the saddle—and he chose the very oval where he first began writing his story.

Talamo has not ridden in a race since October 2024, when he elected to step away following a difficult campaign. He subsequently worked as an analyst for FanDuel TV, an experience he credits with giving him a fresh perspective on how to read and interpret races.

Now, with 2,343 victories, more than US$131 million in purse earnings, and 24 Grade 1 wins to his name, he is ready to pull his boots back on and compete.

“Back to Louisiana! Fair Grounds is home,” he recalled with a laugh. “When I was a kid, my biggest goal was to win the riding title there and beat Robby Albarado. I figured if I pulled that off, I could retire at 17.”

Pull it off he did. During the 2006/2007 meet, while still riding with an apprentice allowance, Talamo booted home 118 winners—finishing 24 ahead of Albarado—to become the first bug boy ever to capture the Fair Grounds riding crown.

That breakthrough opened the doors to national prominence and earned him the 2007 Eclipse Award as Champion Apprentice Jockey.

An extensive stint in California followed, where he established himself as one of the circuit’s most respected regulars.

Among his signature triumphs are the 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) aboard California Flag (Avenue of Flags), that same year’s Wood Memorial (G1) with I Want Revenge (Stephen Got Even), and the 2010 Santa Anita Derby (G1) aboard Sidney's Candy (Candy Ride).

He also enjoyed an unforgettable 2016 campaign, sweeping the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) with Melatonin (Kodiak Kowboy).

In recent years, however, his numbers began to taper off. In 2024, he managed just 14 wins from 273 mounts, a slump that weighed heavily on his decision to step back.

His comeback began taking shape after his stint with FanDuel wrapped up last June. First, he spent several months traveling with his family—something his nonstop riding schedule had never allowed. Before long, though, the pull of the racetrack returned. He began breezing horses in the mornings for trainers such as Ian Wilkes, Bob Baffert, and Kenny McPeek, quickly discovering that his feel and timing remained intact.

“The first horse I got on was for Ian Wilkes. I thought I was just going to gallop him, and I ended up working him,” Talamo said. “It felt like my internal clock had never stopped.”

Talamo says he stayed in peak physical condition throughout his hiatus, maintaining a riding weight around 52 kilos through a disciplined training regimen.

He also believes his time in front of the camera will make him a sharper rider: “Even though I rode for 18 years, I feel like I’m much better now at handicapping races and evaluating my own decisions. I learned so much working at FanDuel,” he explained.

His book will be handled by Ron Faucheux, a former trainer who now ranks among the top jockey agents at Fair Grounds. The meet kicks off on November 19, featuring a deep jockey colony headed by José Ortiz, winner of the last two riding titles, alongside Brian Hernandez Jr., James Graham, and other accomplished riders.

Talamo knows the road back will be demanding, yet he is keeping his expectations grounded: “I never considered myself the most talented rider, but I always knew I could outwork anybody. I’m going to come back, give it everything I’ve got, and see what happens,” he said.

Nearly twenty years after fulfilling his boyhood dream, Joe Talamo returns to the place where it all started—not to prove he can reach the summit, but to see how much more he can savor a profession that never stopped fueling his passion.