Marty McGee, Eclipse Award winning writer for Daily Racing Form since 1992, announced on Tuesday that he will be leaving the racing publication after this year's Kentucky Derby to launch a career as agent for jockey Joe Talamo.
“The upcoming Kentucky Derby will be the 50th straight that I have attended – and my last as a writer and handicapper for Daily Racing Form,” McGee wrote in a message posted on Twitter.
“After 38 years as a professional racing journalist, I will begin working full-time as the agent for my nephew-in-law, jockey Joe Talamo,” the statement continued. “Joe and I are very excited about what the future holds. He's an immense talent who belongs among the game's elite.”
McGee, a native of Louisville, Ky., whose brother, Paul, is a multiple graded stakes-winning trainer, spent nearly seven years writing and handicapping for the Baltimore Sun before joining the Daily Racing Form editorial team. A University of Kentucky graduate with a degree in journalism, McGee won an Eclipse Award for outstanding features/commentary for a 2013 profile of Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux.
“I can honestly say it has been a career of incredible fulfillment,” McGee's statement added. “I filed racing stories from 17 different states and was privileged to meet thousands of wonderful people (and horses) along the way.”
Talamo, married to the daughter of McGee's sister, is a Louisiana native who launched his riding career in 2006 and earned an Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice rider in 2007. Based in California for most of his career, Talamo topped $10 million in annual earnings on four occasions – in 2007, and 2012-'14. He moved his tack to the Midwest in January 2020 and has ridden the Oaklawn-Kentucky circuit since.
Talamo's career statistics show 2,289 wins from 16,027 mounts and earnings of $127,288,032. He's record 24 Grade 1 wins, most recently aboard Ivar in the 2020 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland.
The post McGee To Leave Daily Racing Form, Book Mounts For Talamo appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
