Woo Hoo!! Calvin Borel!!!

[grits]

Why not a thread for him, too?

Here's an uncharacteristically enthusiastic tribute (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/16/AR2009051602416.html?hpid=topnews)to him from Andy Beyer.

[Glimmerglass]

And to show that he's all business and not about to rest on his laurels - see below. This on top of the fact that Friday morning what was Calvin doing? Mowing his lawn.

Associated Press May 17, 2009 "Jockey Borel keeps on winning the day after Preakness triumph" (http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jCb2cTXoWQKABrx5wVjtMC4dt3fw)

The day after arguably the biggest win of his career was no different.

Less than 24 hours after guiding Rachel Alexandra to a history-making win in the Preakness, Borel was back in the winner's circle at Churchill Downs, guiding Sun Button to victory in the fourth race under the twin spires.

"These are the horses that got me here," Borel said.

And they're the ones he'll keep riding even in the middle of the kind of historic run that has made the 42-year-old Borel the hottest jockey in the U.S.

So rather than take a well-deserved break following a hectic two weeks in which Borel won the Kentucky Oaks and the Preakness on Rachel Alexandra and pulled off a huge upset in the Derby aboard Mine That Bird - the 2008 Canadian two-year-old champion male - Borel hopped a plane from Baltimore to Louisville and headed straight to the track.

He's waited so long for a moment like this, he has no plans to slow down.

"I'm riding so good right now, it's unbelievable, it's scary," Borel said. "I'm riding good horses, that's why."

[Fixerupper]

Both wonderful horses, both deserving of their respective wins...
Having watched the Preakness again (a few times).. with Borel up, I think the little gelding could have nosed the big filly!
I remember a quote from Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons "it doesn't matter who owns them, it doesn't matter who trains them, it really doesn't matter who rides them...they run as far and and fast as they're bred to go"
...but on that day I think Borel could have won with Mine That Bird.

With his obvious talent and his great attitude, I really hope Calvin Borel gets more 'good horses' to ride :)

[caffeinated]

Another great article about Calvin from the Wall Street Journal:

All Hail the Gentleman Jockey (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124260656942028769.html)


"Next up is the Belmont Stakes -- and, to challenge himself, Mr. Borel will ride either a Pomeranian, or a very small iguana."

[Lori T]

Well as it turns out, Calvin does own a Pomeranian! I refer to her as the devil dog!

[Equino]

Maybe a silly question...I've seen it mentioned a few times about Calvin having the possibility to win the TC despite winning with different horses. Is there a TC award for jockeys?

[Alagirl]

Maybe a silly question...I've seen it mentioned a few times about Calvin having the possibility to win the TC despite winning with different horses. Is there a TC award for jockeys?

LOL, but since you can't ask stud fee for them...:lol:

But watching the race, I think he could have won on Mine That Bird as well.

[Glimmerglass]

Maybe a silly question...I've seen it mentioned a few times about Calvin having the possibility to win the TC despite winning with different horses. Is there a TC award for jockeys?

No special trophy /award exists for the accomplishment strictly for the jockey. There is a sterling silver Triple Crown trophy (squat and modern looking - frankly very blah looking to me) which only came about and was first awarded by NY Gov. Nelson Rockefeller to Penny Chenery (nee Tweedy).

Calvin certainly has not been deprived of getting some nice $ checks, trophies (he gets one for the Derby, Preakness and Oaks), plus all of the media and fan attention.

[EquineRacers]

Agreed!! This guy has to be on top of the world!!!!!! To win the KY Oaks, KY Derby, Preakness!!! WOW, I'd love to see him win the Belmont too, even on another horse!!!!! He should really get something for this! Its history!

[Fixerupper]

He should really get something for this!
Hopefully ...more 'good horses' :D

[Glimmerglass]

I'd think nominated and inducted into the Hall of Fame would be most fitting.

List of Hall of Fame jockeys (http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/default.asp?display=Jockeys) - and you don't have to be retired to get in unlike say The National Baseball Hall of Fame:

Names such as Russell Baze, Kent Desormeaux, Mike Smith, and Edgar Prado are all in.

[zahena]

I really love his enthusaism for each horse he rides. I think Mine That Bird would've had her if the had only more distance to go, she looked done in to me but was giving it her best for him. I think he's just a jockey whose horses just want to run for him.

He's totally fearless, watching the Kentucky Derby again, who would've had the nerve to run that horse THAT close to the rail. What a lucky guy to have two amazing horses to choose between!

[caffeinated]

He's totally fearless, watching the Kentucky Derby again, who would've had the nerve to run that horse THAT close to the rail. What a lucky guy to have two amazing horses to choose between!

Even my non-horsey (ex) boyfriend, who doesn't get why I care about racing, was really impressed at how Borel got through that mess of horses. It just didn't look like there was room there, but he made it happen.

They were like the Knight Bus in Harry Potter, expanding space around them to make room, heh. </nerd>

[vacation1]

Also from the WSJ column:

it ain't bragging if you do it.

Having an athlete break the boy-taboo against predicting victory was just so cool.

[SimpsoMatt]

http://www.maryjeanwall.com/wallblog/?page_id=742&preview=true

[Beverley]

Also from the WSJ column:

it ain't bragging if you do it.

Having an athlete break the boy-taboo against predicting victory was just so cool.


I am disappointed that the WSJ didn't properly attribute the quote, which really was:

"It ain't bragging if you CAN do it." (emphasis mine)

Uttered by the late great Dizzy Dean. Yes I am old enough to have (as a kid) watched the regular Saturday baseball games covered by Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese.

[Fixerupper]

I've got to say the 'Lassie/Timmy's down the well - it ain't braggin' if you do it' line...made me howl!!! :D

[Artful]

Penny Chenery (nee Tweedy).

Glimmerglass--a rare mistake for you!:)

Penney was nee Chenery--married Tweedy--and is now Chenery again!

[drmgncolor]

I met Calvin at Churchill Downs this weekend and he's is so nice, personable and approachable. He signed our CD magnets and stood for a couple of pics! What a nice guy!

[J. Turner]

http://www.maryjeanwall.com/wallblog/?page_id=742&preview=true

Great article, memories and pictures! I didn't know worlds like that still existed ... even in the 70s (or was it early 80s)?

[Lori T]

Calvin is spending the week in New York. He taped Letterman on Tuesday which will air on Friday and this morning he got to ring the bell in the NY Stock Exchange. He has been to see MTB who is now at Belmont.

[Glimmerglass]

An interesting - and lengthy - read on Calvin

Daily Racing Form June 4, 2009 "A day in the life: Calvin Borel" (http://drf.com/news/article/104379.html)

[Glimmerglass]

Here is the video of the crew ringing the New York Stock Exchange opening bell (http://www.belmontstakes.com/story/2009/6/4/calvin-and-co.-visit-the-nyse/)

Also The Wall Street Journal did this interesting article (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204456604574207760991807936.html) on how the true bush leagues of Louisiana[/url] made him and others top jocks.

No other region in the continental U.S. offered kids as young as 8 the opportunity to learn the balance and subtle artistry it takes to ride a reckless, 1,200-pound animal. Riding racehorses is sort of like skydiving—there’s only one way to learn how to do it.

And if you could do it on a bush tracks, sometimes with your bare feet in the stirrups, sometimes on a horse’s bare back, surely you could do it on a sanctioned track with an ambulance following behind.

Mr. Borel remembers his first horse race aboard a colt named Mickey as clearly as his triumph in last month’s Kentucky Derby. The horse dashed between the rails of a 350-yard, two-horse straightaway at a bush track in Abbeville, La., to give him his first win. He was 8 years old. “I would get me four or five dollars a mount, and we’d go 16, 17 races in a day,” Mr. Borel said. “I figured that was big money.”

[Mara]

Fingers crossed that things go his way!

Even though there is no equine Triple Crown on the line, and Rachel Alexandra isn't running, I think a lot of folks will be tuning in just to watch Calvin.

[grits]

ESPN just reported that Calvin opted NOT to ride his mount in the 5th race. Another jockey got on . . . and the horse tossed him during the race and finished riderless.

WTG, Calvin!!!!

[Lamma70]

ESPN just reported that Calvin opted NOT to ride his mount in the 5th race. Another jockey got on . . . and the horse tossed him during the race and finished riderless.

WTG, Calvin!!!!

Wow! Talk about insightful! I hope that means he is going to win the Belmont. He seems to have some good Mojo going on. I would love to see him win!

[Amyy]

ESPN just reported that Calvin opted NOT to ride his mount in the 5th race. Another jockey got on . . . and the horse tossed him during the race and finished riderless.

WTG, Calvin!!!!

actually I think the horse stumbled and Morales opted to jump off

[Glimmerglass]

I cannot say going in cold on Belmont day is something I'd advise him to do. See the Belmont thread - Calvin has raced at the Belmont track less then 10 times in his entire life (I think it's 8 total) and won just once on the dirt.

[Foxtrot's]

I need to ask a question: When you thread the eye of the needle like Calvin did, under what circumstances would it be called a foul - if he bumps and causes the other horse to veer? Why does it take so much courage to do that if not?

[Acertainsmile]

I need to ask a question: When you thread the eye of the needle like Calvin did, under what circumstances would it be called a foul - if he bumps and causes the other horse to veer? Why does it take so much courage to do that if not?

It would be a foul if you impeded on another horse, knocking him off stride, or caused the other rider to check severely (sometimes jocks will be dramatic in checking to make it look worse than it really is). During a race horses will sometimes brush each other, every effort must be made by the riders to not interfere though.

As far as the danger of going through a tight hole, horses are not machines... so they can change paths in the blink of an eye... being in tight can cause horses to clip heels, and along the rail there is no where to go but into the rail (or over) if you get in really tight.

[Foxtrot's]

It takes courage to ride in the middle of any pack - Calvin seems to like to keep his horse safe in the beginning of the run and then scoot through the openings. This whole series has been one of fascinating turns and twists and nobody got hurt like the previous tragedy or had to run on rebuilt feet. It is such a thrill to see a horse come through like a fresh horse leaving the others standing still...makes you wonder where they get it from.