Three-time Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winning jockey Calvin Borel is moving south for the winter and will begin riding at Gulfstream Park at the conclusion of Churchill Downs’ 21-day fall meet, according to agent Jerry Hissam.
“The main reason we’re going is to ride horses for (trainer) Ian (Wilkes),” Hissam said in a release. “He’s got (Iroquois winner, gr. III) Motor City and several other babies that haven’t started yet. When you get a chance to ride a group of nice horses, you take it.”
Gulfstream Park’s meet will begin Dec. 3, but Borel, who has traditionally ridden at Oaklawn Park over the winter, is not scheduled to begin riding at the track until Dec. 15.
Borel, who has ridden 853 winners at Oaklawn Park since 1991, has only recorded two victories at Gulfstream in the same time-span. In December, he will ride his first race at Gulfstream Park in nearly three years.
While the main draw to Gulfsteam is the Wilkes barn, Hissam noted there could be a few more reasons the 45-year-old Cajun is heading to Florida.
“We’re working on getting a few more good horses for him to ride down there, but nothing is official yet,” he said. “Stay tuned.”
Borel, who is the second all-time leading rider beneath the Twin Spires with 1,071 wins, is currently tied for sixth in the jockey standings at Churchill Downs with four wins through the first 10 days of the fall meet.