| Name |
Calvin Borel |
| Height |
5 ft 4 in |
| Naionality |
American |
| Date of Birth |
7-November-1966 |
| Place of Birth |
St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Famous for |
Horse Racing Player |
Calvin Borel is an American jockey in thoroughbred horse racing and rode the victorious mount in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, the 2009 Kentucky Derby and the 2010 Kentucky Derby. His 2009 Derby win with Mine That Bird was the second biggest upset in Derby history behind Donerail, and Borel's winning margin of 6 3⁄4 lengths was the greatest in Derby history since Assault won by 8 lengths in 1946.
On May 1, 2009, Borel won the Kentucky Oaks aboard Rachel Alexandra, only the second time since 1993 that a jockey has won the Oaks-Derby combo, and just the seventh time overall a jockey has accomplished this feat in the same year. On May 16, 2009, Borel won the 2009 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico with thoroughbred filly Rachel Alexandra. In doing so, Borel became the first jockey to win the first two jewels of the Triple Crown on different mounts. Borel's nickname is Bo"rail" because he stays so close to the rail to save ground. Calvin began his professional riding career at Delta Downs. Over a career that has spanned 25 years, Borel has become known for his tireless work ethic as well as an ability to slip up the rail to save ground; his colleagues and racing fans therefore frequently refer to him as "Calvin Bo-rail". Borel is 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) and 116 pounds (53 kg).
He lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife, Lisa Funk. His riding career began to surge in June 2006 when he won the $750,000 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs with 91–1 longshot Seek Gold, getting up in the final stride to win by a nose over Perfect Drift and paying $185.40 to win. That year was his big break when he won his first Breeders' Cup on Street Sense in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Borel then won the 2007 Kentucky Derby aboard Street Sense, guiding the colt to a 2 1⁄4 length victory over Hard Spun. He next had a close second-place finish aboard Street Sense in the Preakness Stakes to Curlin.
