Calvin H. Borel

Biography

Calvin Borel won the Kentucky Derby in 2007 with Street Sense, in 2009 with Mine That Bird at odds of 50-1, and in 2010 with Super Saver to become the first jockey to win America’s most famous race three times in a four-year period.

One of the most aggressive and fearless riders in the history of American racing, Borel is also one of the most accomplished. The Louisiana native is in rare company as one of only nine jockeys to win the Kentucky Derby three or more times. He also became only the second rider to win 1,000 career races at Churchill Downs.

Borel wasn’t even 10 years old when he started riding at the bush tracks in his home state. He began his professional career in 1983 and through 2023 has won 5,288 races with purse earnings of $133,762,065.

With champion Street Sense (2007), Mine That Bird (2009), and Super Saver (2010), Borel became the first jockey in the history of the sport to win the Kentucky Derby three times in a four-year span. His victory at odds of 50-1 with Mine That Bird was one of the most stunning outcomes in the history of America’s most prestigious race.

Borel also enjoyed tremendous success with the Hall of Fame filly Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year who compiled a perfect 8-for-8 campaign that year. Borel piloted Rachel Alexandra to nine successive stakes victories in the Golden Rod, Martha Washington, Fair Grounds Oaks, Fantasy, Kentucky Oaks, Preakness, Mother Goose, Haskell Invitational, and Woodward.

The winner of the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 2010, Borel has won four riding titles at Churchill Downs, three each at Delta Downs and Louisiana Downs, two at both Oaklawn Park and Ellis Park, and one each at Turfway Park and Kentucky Downs.

Other major victories for Borel include the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Travers, Alabama, Sword Dancer Invitational, Florida Derby, Stephen Foster Handicap, Apple Blossom Handicap, Arkansas Derby, Clark Handicap, Oaklawn Handicap, Tampa Bay Derby, Jim Dandy, and Super Derby, among others.

Achievements

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the 2007 Kentucky Derby — Street Sense
Won the 2009 Kentucky Derby — Mine That Bird
Won the 2010 Kentucky Derby — Super Saver
Won the 2009 Preakness Stakes — Rachel Alexandra

Breeders' Cup Highlights

Won the 2006 Juvenile — Street Sense

Jockey Profile | Calvin H. Borel | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information