Jockey Calvin Borel
Born: 11/7/66, Martinsville, Louisiana; Resides: Louisville, Kentucky; Family: Unmarried.
The first Saturday in May of the 2007 racing season was like a dream come true for Borel when he rode Street Sense to triumph in the Kentucky Derby. Soon after the memorable ride, he and fiance Lisa Funk were invited to the White House for a white-tie dinner honored by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, who had attended her first Derby.
Earlier in the year, Borel had enjoyed an excellent Oaklawn meeting when he finished third in the standings, winning 40 of his 226 races, as his Spa mounts earned $935,020. During the meet, he rode Jonesboro to victory in the $100,000 Essex.
His riding feats at this track are legendary. A versatile veteran at Oaklawn, Borel had almost identical winning percentages in route races as sprints.
In 1995, Borel won the local riding championship, dethroning Pat Day after the latter four-time Eclipse winner had led every Oaklawn meeting since 1982. Calvin won a second Spa crown in 2001.
Becoming the 45th North American rider in history to score 4,000 wins at recognized tracks, Borel reached that milestone at Oaklawn on February 16, 2005. He had posted win 3,000 at Oaklawn, attaining that number on March 25, 1999.
"I'm happy that I reached 4,000 at Oaklawn because this is a great group of riders to be a part of here," he enthused.
But, the 2007 season is one he will likely some day tell his grandchildren about. Nationally, it followed 2006 when he fashioned 139 winners from 973 starters with earnings of $6,453,908. By early October of 2007, his horses had already gone over $7 million in earnings.
Not only did he win the Kentucky Derby on Street Sense, he added the Travers and Jim Dandy on the outstanding three-year-old.
He also won the Alabama, Dogwood and Banshee Breeze aboard Lady Joanne, the Sword Dancer Invitational on Grand Couturier, La Troinne on Silverinyourpocket, Louisville Breeders' Cup astride Fiery Pursuit and the Sixty Sails atop Kettleoneup.
Calvin was honored with the 2007 ESPY Award for top jockey as well as the 2007 National Turf Writers Association "Mr. Fitz" Award for typifying the spirit of horse racing.
He has won titles at various meetings; three times at Louisiana Downs. He topped the standings at Delta and Evangeline, the 2000 fall meeting at Turfway, the 1999 Churchill Downs fall season and Ellis Park in 1996.
In his home state of Louisiana, Calvin began riding match races at recognized meetings when only eight years old.
All I ever wanted to be was a jockey," he said. "A lot of kids make plans to be firemen, cowboys, or astronauts, but I knew early, I wanted to ride races."
Borel, who is beginning his twelfth regular Oaklawn campaign, fondly recalls his 1997 Oaklawn season, one that saw him ride the winners of five stakes races including the rich Apple Blossom Handicap on the valient mare Halo America.
When asked about some memorable moments in his career, he answered, "Street Sense and Lady Joanne, what a pair!" Winning the Kentucky Derby is first on the list of thrills when a jockey starts looking back on his career. "Going farther back, I certainly remember riding Halo America, who was a tremendous mare. Also, the stakes on Hot Jaws in the 1995 Count Fleet Sprint. I also recall that big upset here on Rockamundo in the Arkansas Derby, winning the Super Derby on Free Spirit's Joy and the Oaklawn Handicap on K One King. I won several stakes on Bluffy in Kentucky and the Delaware Oaks on Nickel Classic. There have been a lot of big moments. Maybe I should have kept a diary."