Ann Switalski (center) receives a winner’s circle tribute at Louisiana Downs, surrounded by members of the racing community as she prepares to leave for Michigan.

© Louisiana Downs

By StallioneSearch

BOSSIER CITY, LA—March 29, 2026—Louisiana Downs Casino & Racetrack paid tribute Saturday afternoon to longtime track photographer Ann Switalski, recognizing her contributions to the racing community as she prepares to return to her home state of Michigan.

Switalski has been a fixture at Louisiana Downs since taking over as track photographer following the 2022 Thoroughbred meet, when veteran photographer Lou Hodges, Jr. passed the baton after decades of service. Having been hired by Hodges in 2016, she developed her skills under his guidance before stepping into the lead role and completing the 2023 Quarter Horse season with professionalism and consistency.

Her path into photography began while working for a track veterinarian, where she started taking photos of morning workouts to improve her timing and understanding of horses in motion, an experience that ultimately led to her career behind the lens.

Originally from Michigan, Switalski made her home in Louisiana with her husband and two sons, becoming a valued part of the Louisiana Downs community. Saturday’s winner’s circle gathering brought together jockeys, trainers, and horsemen who turned out in force to show their appreciation and bid farewell.

As she departs Louisiana Downs, Switalski leaves behind a lasting impact through the moments she preserved and the relationships she built, earning the respect of a racing community she documented one frame at a time.

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