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.

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 racetracks in southern part of the state.

Joe Talamo has been the regular rider 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.