Most people who are Rachel Alexandra fans probably know that she retired in 2010 and has been happily enjoying green grass and rolling hills at Stonestreet Farm in Kentucky, but what about her beloved jockey, Calvin Borel?
Calvin, who was born in 1966, started riding horses when he was four years old. He left school in eighth grade, wanting only to race. He was helped especially by his brother, Cecil, who was a jockey for a short time and then became a highly accomplished trainer. Calvin’s dream was to win the Kentucky Derby. And boy, did he! Calvin won the Kentucky Derby three times in four years (2007, 2009 and 2010) — the only jockey (so far) ever to do that. He was inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame, in Saratoga Springs, NY, in 2013.
Although his career continued to be strong, Calvin suddenly retired in March, 2016, Calvin. It surprised the racing world, because there was no apparent reason. In other words, he was in good health and had been having a good season. His retirement did not stick, and Calvin returned to the racetrack August of that same year. Racing is his life and it’s all he knows and loves. If he were injured or in poor health it would be different, he said.
Calvin continues to race, and this year he announced that he and girlfriend, Renee Falkner, will have a baby boy in the fall of 2017. This is Borel’s first child. Calvin plans to keep on racing for the forseeable future.
