Born and raised in the western suburbs of Chicago, Joe is a relative newcomer to horse racing. The very first race that he ever attended was the 2015 Arlington Million (G1) - After witnessing local favorite, The Pizza Man, storm down the stretch to victory, he was captivated by the sport. Soon thereafter, he began to show up at his local tracks, Arlington Park and Hawthorne Race Course, camera in hand to photograph the animals and people that make this sport great.
Mentored by some of the best photographers in the Illinois racing community, including fellow All About The Race photographer and contributor Tom Ferry, Joe has been recognized for his work several times over the past few years. Two of his images, Danada Farm Training Track and “Against All Odds” have been chosen for display at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame through their Juried Photo Finish Exhibition. He also had his images selected for use in the 2021 Keeneland November Sale catalog. Also recognized for his work outside of racing, he has a wildlife photograph featured in the 2023 calendar for the Glacier Park Conservancy.
When he is not strolling the grounds of Hawthorne Race Course, or on assignment at tracks like Horseshoe Indianapolis or Keeneland, Joe can be often be found capturing images of landscapes, nature and wildlife. Joe’s other hobbies include: fishing, hiking, exploring the National Parks and spending time with his family. Joe has also hosted a podcast that focused on handicapping stakes races across the country and providing bourbon reviews.