Jockey Calvin Borel
Born: 11/07/66, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana
Resides: Louisville, Kentucky
Family; Single (Engaged)
When the recent Eclipse voting was announced, Borel ranked fourth on the list, trailing only Julien Leparoux, Garrett Gomez and Ramon Dominquez.
In his outstanding riding career, Calvin has ridden more than 4,700 winners, two of them coming in the Kentucky Derby. He rode Mine That Bird to victory last year and Street Sense to triumph in 2007.
Becoming the 45th North American rider in history to score 4,000 victories at recognized tracks, Calvin, whose longtime agent is Jerry Hissam, reached that milestone at Oaklawn on February 16, 2005.
When asked some memorable mounts in his career, the jockey answered, "It was a big thrill to win Kentucky Derbys on Street Scene and Mine That Bird. I also remember that big upset here on Rockamundo in the Arkansas Derby. I’ll never forget winning the Super Derby on Free Spirit’s Joy. Also, I got pretty excited when Seek Gold won the Stephen Foster.
The jockey went on to recall some of his dramatic wins in “big races such as the Clark and all my wins in the Falls City.”
He also mentioned the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Travers and the Golden Rod.
“Don’t forget me riding Delightful Kiss, Brass Hat and Miss Isella,” he asked.
He fondly recalls the 2000 Oaklawn season when he rode K.One King to triumph in the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap.
Among other major victories have been Gourmet Girl in the $500,000 Apple Blossom of 2001 and Rachel Alexandra in the Fantasy.
He posted career 3,000th at Oaklawn, March 25, 1999.
Twice he has won riding crowns at Oaklawn.
Accomplishing impressive events on the American turf has become commonplace for Borel, now 43.
Mine That Bird was the second greatest upset in Derby history behind Donerail. On May 1, Calvin won the Kentucky Oaks aboard Rachel Alexandra, only the second time since 1993 that a jockey has won the Derby and Oaks combo.
When Borel won the 2009 Preakness on Rachel Alexandra, he became the first jockey to win the first two jewels of the American Triple Crown on different mounts.
In 1994 Borel dethroned Pat Day after the latter four-time Eclipse winner had led every Spa meeting since 1982.
At Oaklawn in 1998, he won seven stakes to begin his fine year, went on to Kentucky and, at end of the season, his mounts had earned just short of $7,000,000.
At Oaklawn, in winning the 2001 title, Calvin rode 70 winners from 362 mounts to post a laudable 19.3 success percent.
Borel, presently in his twelfth full Oaklawn campaign, fondly recalls his 1997 Spa season, one that saw him ride the winners of five stakes including the rich Apple Blossom Handicap on the valiant mare Halo America.
A highlight of Calvin’s career came November 4, 2006 when he roused Street Scene to triumph in the $1,832,000 Bessemer Trust’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs.
Said Hissam, “When a new year starts, Calvin and I don’t say we must win so many races, or his mounts earn so much money. That would just added extra pressure on him. All we hope for is him staying healthy all year and not having any bad luck.”