Calvin Borel Returns to Riding at Ellis Park

Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel resumed his racing career Aug. 27 at Ellis Park, with a third- and fourth-place finish in two mounts, after a five-month taste of retirement.

The 49-year-old Hall of Famer's first mount was 2-year-old Kiss My Note, a first-time starter, who was 9-2 in the morning line but bet heavily in early action and went off the 2-1 favorite. He was head-and-head for the lead with eventual winner Chargin Storm, who had run well in his third prior starts, before tiring in the final sixteenth to finish third, a half-length out of second.

"It felt real good," Borel said. "He needed the race more than anything. He got a little tired. He ran third, ran a big race. Yes, I would have loved to win, that's why I'm here—to win. I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to win, but the colt ran a big race."

And about his first race in five months?

"I feel good. I got a little more tired than I thought I would, but I feel good," the rider said.

So who got more tired?

"I don't know, to tell you the truth," Borel said with one of his frequent laughs. "I had to carry him the last part, trying to run second at least. He got a little heavy, just like me—we both needed it."

Borel is such a fan favorite that his sudden retirement March 27, with three weeks left in Oaklawn Park's meeting, was so out of character. He talked to few people and didn't respond to overtures from Oaklawn and Churchill Downs about holding days in his honor.

"I wasn't ready to retire," Borel said. "I just had to get away for a little while—get a load off and come back. That's life. I'm too young and I'm too healthy, and I love to do it. I was far from ready to quit. So I'm back. Wouldn't trade it for the world."

One of the first people Borel confided in about his return was Buff Bradley, the owner and trainer of Kiss My Note.

"For a first-timer for me, I thought if he could hit the board, I'd be very pleased," Bradley said. "Turning for home, I was very excited that he was very much in the race. You could tell he got tired at the end. But he got a race under him now. He'll be ready to go."

That was an apparent reference to Borel as much as Kiss My Note.

"I know his fellow jockeys like him, too," Bradley said. "They're excited. A lot of people had talked to me about it, and other jockeys. They're glad Calvin is back."

"We love to have him back," said jockey Jon Court. "We missed him. He's the old Calvin—great to be around. His retirement surprised everybody, but he had to take some time. I could tell something was bothering him."

Borel also picked up the mount on Tiz Too, who rallied late in a mile turf allowance and narrowly missed third for trainer and owner Tim Richardson. Richardson said he learned Saturday morning that his scheduled rider couldn't make it because of an obligation elsewhere.

"I saw Calvin was open," Richardson said. "Calvin and I go way back. My wife, Renee, used to pony horses at Churchill, so we know Calvin. He rode a filly for us the same week he rode Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra. She won that day. Matter of fact, he mentioned her on the ESPY Awards.

"They interviewed him on ESPN and said, 'How did your week start? You had one heck of a week.' He said, 'Well, I started out winning on a little mare called La Rockette.' I said, 'My gosh, that's the most famous $5,000 horse in America right now.' Calvin doesn't forget the little guy. He gave her the kudos for getting his week started off right.

"We love Calvin. He could be on a couch for a year and we'd ride him. He's the best," said Richardson.

"It was an awesome day," Borel said.