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Calvin Borel is off the Bird - what do YOU think?
How do you feel about this? Given Calvin's status as the hottest jock on American tracks right now, and his close ties with Mother Goose record-setter and Preakness winner, the mighty mare, Rachel Alexandra, should his priority be making the most of his celeb status to get the best rides he can? Or do you empathize with Mine that Bird's trainer, who expects a longterm commitment from a rider? See this breaking news from BloodHorse:
The storybook ride of Calvin Borel and Mine That Bird has come to an end, with the connections of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner now looking for a new jockey.
Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. said he approached Borel and his agent, Jerry Hissam, on the morning of July 1 after hearing reports that the jockey might opt not to ride Mine That Bird in the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Mountaineer Park but would be riding Warrior’s Reward in the Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) that same day at Saratoga in upstate New York.
Woolley said he explained that he needed a rider who would could commit to Mine That Bird for the remainder of 2009 and that Borel was unable to do so.
“Calvin is in a unique position right now to have a lot of options, but his failure to commit to my horse meant I had to go a different direction,” said Woolley. “He’s just got other commitments he has to fulfill. That’s part of the game. That could happen any given day, anywhere.”
Woolley said he had several replacements in mind.
The storybook ride of Calvin Borel and Mine That Bird has come to an end, with the connections of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner now looking for a new jockey.
Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. said he approached Borel and his agent, Jerry Hissam, on the morning of July 1 after hearing reports that the jockey might opt not to ride Mine That Bird in the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Mountaineer Park but would be riding Warrior’s Reward in the Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) that same day at Saratoga in upstate New York.
Woolley said he explained that he needed a rider who would could commit to Mine That Bird for the remainder of 2009 and that Borel was unable to do so.
“Calvin is in a unique position right now to have a lot of options, but his failure to commit to my horse meant I had to go a different direction,” said Woolley. “He’s just got other commitments he has to fulfill. That’s part of the game. That could happen any given day, anywhere.”
Woolley said he had several replacements in mind.
Tags: Alexandra, American, Bird, Borel, Calvin, Mine, Rachel, That, racing
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CalvinRA.JPEG, 2.5 MB
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gary Stuart on -
He should be getting the best rides he can. No one stays hot forever, so why not capitalize on his hard-won fame?
I do empathize with Wooley though. Interesting to see who they'll go for.
What do you think?
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Permalink Reply by L.A. Pomeroy on -
I think that I and a galpal are already marking our calendars for Aug 1 to head to Saratoga and watch Calvin ride in the Jim Dandy! He is an incredible horseman, I have a friend who works for ESPN who got a photo of Calvin at the Preakness, riding mega-mare Rachel Alexandra to the finish line, one handed, and grinning at the crowd pointing with his index finger as if to say look at this folks, she's the real deal.
I'm also enormously pleased that he did not win the Belmont b/c I feel that it would have been a tremendous shame to the Triple Crown to have a jock win, but not a horse. A shame, but an eloquent example of how far the Amer TB breeding industry has sunk that it cannot produce a horse of athletic enough caliber to win the Crown. I grew up in the 1970s where one almost took it for granted that you got a TC winner at least every other year, and the interminable dry spell we have endured for the last quarter century+ is pathetic. But if you look at photos of todays horses compared to the rugged beasts of the 1970s, and consider, much as in the KY Derby, that virtually every 2 or 3 yr old that hits the tracks is linebred back to Native Dancer, what we have created are generations of inbred, frail animals that are the products of a disposable society. It will take us generations of conscientious breeding to try and get back to the type of TB athlete we have lost. Reminds jme of the saying, it's linebreeding when it works, its inbreeding when it doesnt.
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Permalink Reply by Lori Tankel on -
Calvin has commitments...that is what it boils down to, plain and simple. He has to honor his contracts. He loves MTB but unfortunately, he is committed to being in Saratoga for pretty much the whole month of July. I think had MTB been going to Saratoga, there might not be a problem, but logistically, it would be difficult for Calvin to ride 2 horses the same day in 2 different locations.
Calvin is also committed to riding RA throughout the rest of the year. I hope his contract is extended when the year is over.
Remember, this is a business for these jocks. They just can't pick and choose willy nilly when they desire!
Calvin is an awesome horseman, and I am honored to be associated with him. He is doing this for the love of the sport!
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Permalink Reply by Barbara Sky Horse on -
Ohhhhhh L.A. … interesting topic … good for stirring the goo between our ears!!!
…..hmmmmmm……
Well, it seems to me clear as a bell!!!
The much sought after Calvin “Bo-rail" simply has “other” commitments .. Full Stop.
Little to discuss there.
With his highly regarded “work ethic” and commitment to “integrity” with in the sport,
There really didn’t seem much question with regards to “who-where- or when” the season would find him.
I guess I’m only surprised that there seemed to be a lack of communication as to where Calvin would be.
Or … On the other hand… maybe it was just wishful / hopeful thinking on the part of Woolley, that after the incredible win with “Mine That Bird” …Calvin would be staying on board.
…but who really can say “What” goes on behind the scenes, or the thoughts, ideas, plans, that are REALLY Going through the heads of “those” people involved!!
On a personal note ….
*thinking of that Wonderful Cajun accent of His, and his seemingly Always “Upbeat-bubbly” personality*
I can think of nothing I’d like better, then to sit and have him “talk me through” his undeniable … career surge ride in 2006 … aboard “Seek Gold” who happened to be a 91 to 1 Long shot ( can you imagine THOSE odds??? .. Or what a few “Win” tickets would have paid??? …. And the race was won by barely a nose!!! )
For a jockey like Calvin … I Can ONLY Imagine what “that” race must have felt like!!
I’d LOVE to hear him “tell it” in His own words and colorful style!!
I Will be watching ( in pins and needles anticipation ) to see who ends up riding “Mine That Bird” and how the horse will run with out Calvin aboard!!
By the way, anyone who might be interested in Calvin’s Major Racing Wins, Honours and Awards
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Borel
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Permalink Reply by L.A. Pomeroy on
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oh this is wonderful, I love stirring the goo between our ears, and from the looks of it, there are folks here just itching to do a little thinking... I am most certainly a Calvin fan,altho I'll risk sounding like a Yenta and say, dude, when are you going to marry that patient galpal of yours?
I also wonder if I am the only one frustrated by the lack of a TC winner after all this time. Given that the Preakness's parent company filed for bankruptcy, never that I know of in the history of the Crown has its continuance been so shaky... when VISA pulled out as a sponsor was unsettling enough from a sports management standpoint (I still have a hard time with the whole Yum! brands thing but hey, sponsor $$ is sponsor $$). But does anyone else fear that the TC will go the way of the dodo bird if we can't get a 3x winner fairly soon?
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Permalink Reply by Barbara Sky Horse on
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<>--------------< advises Calvin AND his gal-pal to Ignore L.A
LmaoOOOOoo @ "Yenta"
... *begins to sing* .....
match maker.. match maker ..make me a match, find me a find ... catch me a catch ;-)
.....eeeeks... sorry ...
Ok .. the Illusive Triple Crown!!!
Only eleven horses have EVER won it, the last being “Affirmed” in 1978
Since 1900 only 45 horses have managed to win Even two of the three races.
While I can’t see the Triple Crown Ever Actually going the way of the dodo,
I do fear that with in the not too distant future, the three races might be stretched out to allow more time in between the events .. and there's loads of talk about shortening the distance of each of the 3 races.
Now, not that I really know anything about race horses, or the race horse industry ..
( certainly Nothing with regards to the industry’s financials )
But personally, I would hate to see changes like that.
Yes, the road to becoming a Triple Crown Winner is grueling, demanding, difficult, punishing, and Immensely Challenging .... to say the least!!
It's a matter of Breeding ... of Training ... of Brilliant Rides!!!
It's my opinion that the “accomplishment” of winning the Triple Crown should never be diminished.
It’s the Triple Crown that Reveals the few .. The True CHAMPIONS!!
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Permalink Reply by Lori Tankel on
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Marrying Lisa would certainly make Suzanne and Mike (her parents) very happy..though as far as they are concerned, they refer to Calvin as their son in law already!
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Permalink Reply by Linda Dennis on -
I wouldn't have let him ride him after his choice of the filly over Mine That Bird. Not because It's all about revenge, but because he clearly didn't believe in the colt enough to want to help him in his triple crown bid. He helped the forces that chose to risk the fillies reputation and soundness to beat Mine that Bird, so that the old guard in KY and elsewhere could prevent an outsider with low rent affiliations from winning the coveted bauble. He thought she was the "better horse"..yeh..ok. He also found out MTB could have beaten her if he hadn't been trapped in the pack and was outrunning her at the stretch and could have beat her for sure probably if Calvin had stayed on him and rode him similarly to the first time in KY. Then in the third leg, he uncharacteristically took him WAY around the outside (????) while boasting so confidently he'd win; in a media beloved bid to win the triple crown for himself rather than the horse!! Well...maybe he forgot what all good riders know..it's all about the horse. Good for the cowboys..I wouldn't want him on my horse either.
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Permalink Reply by Lori Tankel on
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He had no choice...he was already commited with a contract to ride RA if they entered her...if he declined the ride, he would have lost her permanently. He had a relationship with RA LONG before MTB came along!
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Permalink Reply by Jane Heart on -
I agree...he really should have been practicing at Belmont instead of ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange...he did not know the track at all....I was at the Derby and was lucky enough to get a rose from his blanket....an incredible story...Jane Heart..
nice to have some racing folks on here!!!
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