Calvin Borel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Calvin Borel
Occupation	Jockey
Born	(1966-11-07) November 7, 1966 (age 58) St. Martinville, Louisiana, United States
Career wins	5,146+ (ongoing)
Major racing wins
Super Derby (1991) Arkansas Derby (1993) Count Fleet (1989, 1995) Falls City Handicap (1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2008) Apple Blossom Handicap (1997, 2001) Fleur de Lis Handicap (1997, 2009, 2010) Essex Handicap (1998, 2007) Clark Handicap (1999) Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (1999) Bashford Manor Stakes (2000, 2008) Oaklawn Handicap (2000) Bourbon Stakes (2002) Silverbulletday Stakes (2003) Ack Ack Handicap (1996, 1998, 1999) Stephen Foster Handicap (2006) Amsterdam (2006) Tampa Bay Derby (2007) Travers Stakes (2007) Sword Dancer (2007) Alabama Stakes (2007) Jim Dandy Stakes (2007) Razorback Breeders' Cup Handicap (2008) Golden Rod Stakes (2002,2008) Hal's Hope Handicap (2009) Fair Grounds Oaks (2009) Fantasy Stakes (2009) Kentucky Oaks (2009) Louisville Stakes (2009) Haskell Invitational (2009) Woodward Stakes (2009) Mother Goose Stakes (2009) Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (2000, 2008, 2009) Derby Trial (2010) Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap (1992, 1993, 1994) Churchill Downs Distaff Handicap (1998, 1999, 2003) Delaware Oaks (1998) Louisville Distaff Stakes (1999, 2004, 2007, 2009) Florida Derby (2012) West Virginia Governor's Stakes (2013) American Classics wins: Kentucky Derby (2007, 2009, 2010) Preakness Stakes (2009) Breeders' Cup wins: Breeders' Cup Juvenile (2006)
Racing awards
George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (2010)
Honours
Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame (2011) National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (2013)
Significant horses
Seek Gold, Street Sense, Delightful Kiss Rachel Alexandra, Mine That Bird, Brass Hat, Miss Isella, Super Saver

Calvin H. Borel (born November 7, 1966) is a famous American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He is best known for winning the Kentucky Derby three times, in 2007, 2009, and 2010.

His 2009 Derby victory on a horse named Mine That Bird was a huge surprise. The horse was a 50-1 longshot, meaning very few people thought it could win. Their victory was the third-biggest upset in the history of the Kentucky Derby.

The day before that big win, Borel won another major race, the Kentucky Oaks, riding a filly named Rachel Alexandra. Winning both the Oaks and the Derby in the same weekend is a rare achievement for a jockey.

Just a few weeks later, Borel won the Preakness Stakes with Rachel Alexandra. This made him the first jockey ever to win the first two races of the Triple Crown on two different horses. Because of his special riding style of staying close to the inside fence (the rail) to save time, he earned the nickname "Bo'rail'."

Early Life and Career

Calvin Borel grew up in the heart of southern Louisiana, an area known as Cajun Country. This region is famous for producing many great jockeys. Borel started racing horses at unofficial tracks near his hometown when he was only eight years old.

His older brother, Cecil, was also a jockey for a short time but found it hard to stay at the required low weight. Cecil later became a horse trainer. Following in his family's footsteps, Calvin began his professional career at a racetrack called Delta Downs.

Over his long career, Borel became known for his hard work and his unique skill. He could guide his horse along the inside rail of the track, which is the shortest path around. This smart move often helped him win races, which is why fans and other jockeys call him "Calvin Bo-rail."

Borel is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 116 pounds, a typical size for a jockey. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky, home of the famous Churchill Downs racetrack.

Major Victories and Achievements

Borel riding Street Sense to victory in 2007.

Borel's career took off in 2006. He won a major race called the Stephen Foster Handicap on a horse named Seek Gold, who was a 91-1 longshot. Later that year, he won his first Breeders' Cup race on a horse named Street Sense.

Winning the Kentucky Derby

In 2007, Borel and Street Sense won the Kentucky Derby. They beat the second-place horse, Hard Spun, by more than two lengths. They almost won the next big race, the Preakness Stakes, but finished a very close second.

In 2009, Borel had an amazing weekend. On Friday, he won the Kentucky Oaks with the favorite, Rachel Alexandra. The very next day, he won the Kentucky Derby on Mine That Bird, a horse almost no one expected to win.

In 2010, Borel won the Kentucky Derby for a third time, this time on a horse named Super Saver. This made him the first jockey in history to win three Kentucky Derbies in just four years.

Historic Triple Crown Attempt

After winning the 2009 Derby on Mine That Bird, the owners of Rachel Alexandra decided to enter her in the Preakness Stakes. Borel chose to ride her in that race and won. This was a historic moment because he became the first jockey to win the first two jewels of the Triple Crown on different horses.

He then had a chance to complete a "jockey's Triple Crown" by winning the third race, the Belmont Stakes. He rode Mine That Bird in the Belmont but finished in third place.

Other Career Highlights

• Record-Breaking Day: On July 5, 2007, Borel won six races on a single day at Churchill Downs, a rare feat.
• Major Milestones: In 2008, he won his 4,500th race. In 2013, he reached his 5,000th career victory.
• Rachel Alexandra's Success: Borel and Rachel Alexandra continued to win big races together, including a historic victory in the Woodward Stakes, a race no female horse had ever won before.
• Awards and Honors: In 2010, he received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, a special honor voted on by other jockeys. He was also inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2013.

Borel even played himself in the 2014 movie 50 to 1, which tells the story of Mine That Bird's incredible Kentucky Derby win. After a brief retirement in 2016, Borel returned to racing.

Riding Titles

A "riding title" is an award given to the jockey who wins the most races at a specific racetrack during a racing season. Borel has won many riding titles throughout his career.

• Delta Downs (1985, 1986, 1987)
• Louisiana Downs (1991, 1992, 1994)
• Oaklawn Park (1995, 2001)
• Ellis Park (1995, 2011)
• Churchill Downs Fall meet (1999, 2006, 2009), Spring meet (2010)
• Turfway Park (2000)
• Kentucky Downs (2005)

Year-end charts

This table shows where Borel ranked among all jockeys in North America based on the amount of prize money his horses won each year.