For the past 12 years, Jeff Zamaiko has been a mainstay at the Northfield Park winner's circle as the track photographer, where he has celebrated over 40,000 winners.
Zamaiko retired on September 15 and will be honoured with a family dinner at Kosar’s Wood-Fired Grill, a winner’s circle ceremony with his MGM work family, and some unique gifts from his time at Northfield Park. Jeff will be joined by his wife, Natalie, and their son, Jeff, throughout the festivities at the Flying Turns.
Before starting at Northfield Park, Zamaiko was the track photographer at Thistledown for 18 years and then pulled double duty at the two tracks for more than a decade. Zamaiko has had a trio of photographers helping him for the last 10 years, and he says he could never have made it without their help. His wife, Natalie, has been known to pick up a camera and help her husband out, along with Bob Kemelhar and Dale Dengerd.
“I have known Jeff for 30-plus years,” commented Brent Reitz, MGM Northfield Park vice president of regional racing operations. “He is an outstanding photographer and an even better human being. Congratulations to Jeff, Natalie and the entire Zamaiko family. Enjoy your retirement because you deserve it.”
Zamaiko will continue photographing the Thoroughbreds for one more year before giving it all up to head to his retirement home in Florida. To keep himself busy in his retirement, Jeff plans on continuing to breed and raise Labradoodles as well as spending many mornings on the Florida lakes fishing.
Angela Casalinova, who has been a constant sidekick to Zamaiko for the last five years, has taken over for Zamaiko at Northfield Park. She will also assume the Thistledown role at the end of 2022.
(MGM Northfield Park)