Another Louisiana-born jockey, another national title. This time the honor goes to Joe Talamo, who won the Eclipse Award on Jan. 21 as the top apprentice jockey. The New Orleans native rode 249 winners and earned $10,705,403.

Talamo began racing at Louisiana Downs in 2006. This year he moved to tougher competition at the Fair Grounds, where he capture his first win on opening day. Talamo went on to ride 119 winners at the Fair Grounds and the became the first apprentice to win the track’s riding title.

His biggest day of the year was July 7 when he won two grade I races — the Vanity Invitational Handicap on Nashoba’s Key and the Triple Bend Invitation Handicap on Bilo.