Northfield track photographer retirement ceremony

For the past 12 years, Jeff Zamaiko has been a mainstay at the Northfield Park Winner Circle as the track photographer where he has celebrated over 40,000 harness racing winners.  Zamaiko retired on September 15 and will be honored 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 eighteen 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 ten 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+ years,” commented MGM Northfield Park VP of Regional Racing Operations, Brent Reitz.  “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 sunny 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.   

by Ayers Ratliff, for MGM Northfield Park