2010 Woolf Award Winner

When visiting the Santa Anita Paddock Gardens visitors will find two breathtaking sculptures. One is of George Woolf, and the other is of his most treasured ride, Seabiscuit. This well known jockey was inaugurated into the Hall of Fame of Horse Racing, and after his death the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award was created in his memory. This award, inaugurated in 1950, honors the achievements and contributions made by present day jockeys. It is seen as a prestigious award to receive and was won this year by jockey Calvin Borel.

Winners of the George Woolf Memorial Award belong to the Jockeys Guild, and the award can only be won once by a specific jockey. The regional managers of the Jockey’s Guild decided on the nominees, after which the rest of the members of the Guild voted for their favorite. Borel, who received the nod from his peers, is also affectionately referred to as “Bo-Rail”, which was derived from his riding style. Calvin Borel is known as a jockey who prefers riding on the rail and saving as much ground as possible. He is also known as a compassionate jockey with a great love for horses, such as his unique and special relationship with Rachel Alexandra. Other jockey’s who were in the running for the award included Gallyn Mitchell, Garrett Gomez, DeShawn Parker and Randall Meier.

Calvin Borel was born on 7 November 1966, and originates from Louisiana. Now living in Kentucky, Borel stands out as a jockey because of his down to earth personality, often helping his brother (a trainer) muck out stables, with his vibrant smile and friendliness. His dedication to horse racing has seen him win many events and ride numerous world class horses, including Street Sense and Mine That Bird. Some of his victories include the Preakness Stakes, Kentucky Derby, Apple Blossom Handicap, Fantasy Stakes and the Haskell Invitational. The George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award will be handed over to Calvin Borel at an award ceremony at the end of March, or April, hosted at the Santa Anita Racecourse. Calvin Borel is most deserving of this award, as were his fellow nominees, displaying great character and boasting a racing career that any jockey can be proud of.