Veteran jockey Joe Talamo is taking a brief hiatus from riding while spending time with his family in Louisville, Ky., he said on Thursday afternoon. Talamo last rode at Santa Anita on Oct. 4 and said he has no definite plans to return to riding in the short-term. “I’m enjoying time off,” he said. “I’ve been laying low, enjoying hanging out with the family.” Talamo, 33, has won 2,343 races in a career that began in 2006, when he was 16. Talamo won the Eclipse Award as the outstanding apprentice jockey of 2007. “I’ve been doing this since I was 16,” he said. “I’m very fortunate for that and fortunate to be able to take time off.” Earlier this year, Talamo said he planned to ride at Fair Grounds this winter. While that may occur, he said on Thursday that he was not certain to be in action when that track opens on Nov. 22. “I haven’t really made a decision yet,” he said on a comeback. Talamo has won 14 races from 273 mounts this year. He won 5 races from 86 mounts at the Del Mar summer meeting earlier this year. :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.