Talamo set for return to saddle after COVID-19 positive

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockey Joe Talamo will have his first mounts of the Oaklawn Park meet on Thursday after being forced to miss the first two weeks of the season due to a positive test for COVID-19.

Talamo said Friday he experienced just one symptom, the loss of taste and smell. He said those senses have since returned. Talamo has been in quarantine and looks for health officials to allow him to start working horses Monday or Tuesday.

“I was lucky I never got a fever, or chills, or anything,” he said. “The symptoms were pretty much non-existent, except I did lose taste and smell.”

Talamo said he has been able to keep up a fitness routine and “feels great,” heading into Thursday.

Jockeys have faced a number of testing protocols during the pandemic, and Talamo had three recent negative tests for the coronavirus before the fourth, taken on Oaklawn’s opening day Jan. 22, came back positive. Talamo had ridden at Fair Grounds the weekend before the start of Oaklawn and was named on horses in Hot Springs.

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“I’m fortunate they found it,” Talamo said. “I would have hated to be around someone, given it to someone who could have had worse symptoms.”

Talamo’s family had not yet traveled to Oaklawn at the time of his positive test and have put off coming until sometime next week, he said.

The positivity rate in the Hot Springs area has been as high as 25 percent in recent weeks, but dropped to 15 percent this week, according to a report put out by government officials.

Oaklawn is conducting its meet with limited attendance policy that was approved by health officials.

As for Talamo, he’s looking forward to getting back in action. He tied for second in the standings last year at Oaklawn.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “I love Oaklawn. I couldn’t wait to get started here, then this happened. It definitely hurt us momentum-wise, as it would at any meet, to miss the opening two weeks.

“We’ll be ready to roll next week.”