Calvin Borel makes me happy to be alive
By Gina Spadafori
May 2, 2009
I didn’t watch the Kentucky Derby live. I watched the replay on the Internet after I knew everyone got home OK. What can I say? It has been a bad spring for me, and I have had enough death. I haven’t watched a live race since Go Between died after a workout, of an apparent heart attack. (He was our publisher’s horse, and the reason I was invited to the Breeders Cup last fall.)
This summer I’ll be back at Del Mar, I know it. But for now … a break from live racing. Besides, I really don’t like silly hats, drunks and people who don’t know anything about racing, and that’s what the Derby’s all about.
My favorite part of today’s Derby was the after. Calvin Borel is arguably the most-loved jockey active today, for his personality and his work ethic. To win the Oaks yesterday and the Derby today will forever lift him from “journeyman jockey” status. This win was better than his first, two years ago on the favorite, Street Sense. (Check out Sarah K. Andrew’s picture of the winning horse, from earlier in the week. Look at that bridle and tell me his connections don’t love this little guy.)
Borel’s heart is always on his sleeve, and he’s in a tough business for that kind of emotion, which makes it more special. Here he is riding back to the winner’s circle. I just want to hug the guy, I’m so happy for him.
Update: Valerie on the Foolish Pleasure blog says what I think re: Mine That Bird. After last year, not only the tragedy of Eight Belles but the sleazy greedhead trainer-owners running poor drugged-up Big Brown with his crappy fake feet, this is a great return to what horse racing should be.
Update 2: Thanks to Pat and her keen eye! Check out the picture above by Ed Reinke of the AP. Pet Connection BFF/co-author/RockandRacehorses blogger and professional equine photographer Sarah K. Andrew, right at the finish line holding a very big Nikon lens. You go girl!
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Calvin Borel is just the best! And what a horse race! Last to First. Doesn’t get any more exciting than that. And although we were disappointed General Quarters didn’t finish in the money, we were delighted when Mine The Bird came so magnificently out of No Where to win so spectacularly. THe hel9copter shots of the path Calvin picked for the horse with that last squeeze at the rail was awesome.
I don’t have an operative tv anymore ( relegated to attic after switch to digital), so a friend and I decided to make a party of the Race…no hats but a suitable beverage.
Comment by Anne T — May 2, 2009 @ 6:33 pm
Such a happy win. Rachel Maddow showed Rachel Alexander’s race yesterday evening on her show. That one was breath taking also.
Comment by Cate — May 2, 2009 @ 6:59 pm
I also love the irony this horse was picked up for $9500 and is a gelding.
Sarah’s picture is just well…just right up on the bit!
Comment by Anne T — May 2, 2009 @ 7:47 pm
I used to go to Belmont here in NYC every week just to watch them run. That was until I dated a man in the business, and learned of the dark side of racing,and how even big winners end up in the Killer trucks, sold at auction for 50 cents a pound, and killed at slaughter houses to be steaks on Japanese, Canadian, and European dinner tables.The way thoroughbreds are used and dumped kills me. I want racing to be banned. It is inhumane. And what happens to all the millions that are bred and never turn into a Smarty Jones? Guess what happens to them. At any rate, I work with thoroughbred rescue now, to do my best to keep them off of the killer vans. And I am very happy for that safe and very successful ride!!! I love the jockey and his humble nature, and the trainer clearly seemed to care for the horse, and the jockey. He transported the horse himself, which was smart. A close friend worked for the largest and “best” equine transport, and he told me how they lie to customers and tell them all the drivers are horse men, when that isn’t true. And most of the drivers in that company are scared of the horses, and mistreat and neglect them during transport. So he was SMART to move the horse himself. It’s a gelding, so it can’t go to the breeding shed. I hope his owners are going to stick by him forever, even when he is done making money for them.
Comment by Evie — May 3, 2009 @ 1:39 am
When Calvin cried at the memory of his parents, I cried with him. Just when you think you are over that loss, something wonderful happens in your life, and they aren’t here to share it with you. I know how he feels. It was wonderful to see a person so happy, so “uncool.” No calm grace-under-pressure, just exuberant joy— naked happiness.
I’m no fan of horse-racing when I see beautiful animals crash and die on the track. But this race was fun to watch.
Comment by Terry Albert — May 3, 2009 @ 7:48 am
He is a very special jockey to me. He won on a horse named Lickity Stich in March 1984 at Delta Downs. That horse was owned by my dad, Leroy O’Neill.
He rode Stich many times.
Dad passed away 6 years ago, and I wished he would have been here to see it. Maybe he was up there watching with Calvin’s mom and dad yesterday
Comment by Terrell O'Neill — May 3, 2009 @ 8:01 am
Terry and Terrell … until you posted I didn’t realize that part of why I was crying so much in happiness for Calvin Borel is not just because of who he is, but also because of his talking about his deceased parents.
With my own loss so raw, I guess it really hit a nerve. You always want to have your parents around to share the good times, and you just can’t.
It’s like our Liz Palika, who also just lost her Dad, writing about the first time she had a celebration of a new book and her dad wasn’t there wearing his “I’m the Author’s Dad!” T-shirt.
Anyway … bless you, Calvin, and congratulations to a wonderful Cajun boy who will always love his mom and pop.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 3, 2009 @ 8:08 am
Loved the race and the open emotions of the jockey and trainer and was happy that no horse was injured. It was a breathtaking race. But am I wrong that in years past the events leading up to the race were on for about an hour and half. This time it was almost 4 hours. Way too long to see the silly hats and Paris shopping. Who cares about that. True horse lovers are there for the race. Too bad Jim McKay is no longer here. Always
loved to watch him.
Comment by VJ — May 3, 2009 @ 8:33 am
I didn’t watch yesterday, but in recent years ESPN has carried daylong coverage, flipping to the whatever big network had the show for an hour and then picking it up again after.
Yes, I have spent the entire First Saturday in May watching “Breakfast at the Derby,” “Derby Day,” “Derby Pre-Race” and the entire Derby undercard plus the “After the Derby” on ESPN.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 3, 2009 @ 8:48 am
Thanks to Pat for noticing Pet Connection BFF Sarah K. Andrew at the finish line. I’m so proud of and happy for my pal Sarah, best equine photographer EVAH.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 3, 2009 @ 10:14 am
“….running poor drugged-up Big Brown with his crappy fake feet”
News flash! Thoroughbreds are known for crappy feet. Of the dozens I’ve known, I’ve only seen one who had normal feet! What Big Brown had done to his feet is pretty commonplace; it was people outside of the competitive horse world who were so intrigued.
(C’mon, Gina. Rose colored glasses.)
Thoroughbred racing is also not a zero drug tolerance sport. Lasix anyone? This is a drug that is used regularly to reduce fluid volume. Sounds crazy for an animal that is going to give a supreme athletic effort, right? Except that a lot of these TB’s bleed through the nose with extreme exertion introducing the risk of aspiration, so Lasix is administered to reduce that risk. But is dehydrating the horse *really* in that horse’s best interest? Sure, it’s not performance enhancing, but it’s not for the animal’s welfare.
Zero drug tolerance is the only answer.
Comment by Deanna — May 3, 2009 @ 11:53 am
Deanna, again, and with all due respect: Don’t insult me with the rose-colored glasses remarks. I’m not wearing them, and I’m not stupid.
You remind me of the many, many people who see everything in black and white, such as:
1) You are either a vegan, or you are supporting factory farms.
2) You are either in favor of forced-spay neuter of all pets, or you are choosing for pets to die in shelters.
3) You are either in favor of all guns and all hunting, or you are in favor of banning all.
Well guess what?
1) I am in favor of sustainable animal agriculture that respects the needs of the animals and offers outlets for their natural behaviors, and provides death without pain or fear.
2) I have bred a litter AND run a breed rescue, and I believe forced spay-neuter will kill more pets than it saves, which is why I work towards a no-kill nation and support the preservation of our heritage breeds through ethical, responsible breeding.
3) I am a liberal gun owner who believes in the Second Amendment and ethical, sustainable hunting but I don’t think it’s reasonable to grant the right to own any weapon you want or any ammo to go with it.
And I’m also a horse-racing fan, and will remain one, albeit one who has argued for reform for as long as I’ve been writing, which is a very long time indeed.
Your opinions are yours, and I support your right to have them and state them. But I guarantee you I do not come to mine without a great deal of research, backstretch and farm-time, soul-searching and thought. And you insult me to suggest otherwise. That may not be your intent, but that’s the result over time.
Again, if you think racing is the only equine sport to use performance-enhancing or injury-hiding drugs, YOU are the one with the rose-colored glasses. Or 21 dead polo ponies, take your pick.
I’m sorry that you can’t see that you can’t have a great racehorse without the horse wanting to win, and trying to do so, every time. The great ones have a desire that’s so keen you can taste it in the air at the finish line. I’m not a gambler at all: It’s THAT horse I come to see, and THAT moment of greatness.
Racing is not black and white to me, nor is it rose-colored. Funny how life is the same way.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 3, 2009 @ 12:58 pm
Hi, Just stumbled on this website. Just wanted to respond to Gina’s comment: You go girl!
I was shocked and disgusted when I learned how deeply drugged racehorses are, treated like they are pieces of meat, instead of soulful animals who understand the demands of racing.
Dogs understand us when we ask them to fetch. Horses understand us when we ask them to go fast.
Dogs don’t need drugs to fetch. Why should horses be treated any less?
Comment by GingerM — May 4, 2009 @ 6:00 am
OMG!!
Watch Rachel Alexander win the Kentucky Oaks (same jockey as derby winner) the day before the Derby if you haven’t. When you see that kind of beauty, you know why people breed and race horses. I haven’t had a moment like that since watching Secretariat win the Belmont. Usually horse races are won as other horses tire and the winning horse just has more gas in the tank. This filly continues to accelerate and accelerate to the finish line, and her jockey is holding her even, not even pushing her. This is a horse with a HUGE heart.
The Derby was won by a good horse and a great jockey. The Oaks was an Awesome horse and a great jockey.
Comment by Kristi — May 4, 2009 @ 9:12 am
Here is the Kentucky Oaks link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
Comment by Kristi — May 4, 2009 @ 9:21 am
TB’s may be known for bad feet-but to race them on feet like Big Brown’s, and then for others to breed to that is an atrocity in its own right. That horse has terrible feet, and no amount of excellent farrier work can counter it.
Nice Post and nice counter argument Gina!
Comment by Kristy B — May 6, 2009 @ 7:53 am
I Love Calvin B- His manners, kindness, heart and Talent..GO Calvin
Comment by Anna New — June 14, 2009 @ 4:24 pm