Jockey Calvin Borel rode Gray Hart’s Girl to a 7 3/4-length triumph in the fourth race June 4 to secure his 1,000th career victory at Churchill Downs.
Borel, who has ridden the winner of three of the past four Kentucky Derbies, is the second rider to reach the 1,000-victory plateau at Churchill Downs. He joins Hall of Famer Pat Day, who recorded 2,482 victories beneath the Twin Spires. The 43-year-old Louisiana native posted victory No. 999 in the second race aboard Brown Eyed Baby, trained by his brother Cecil Borel.
Overall, Borel has won 4,767 races and his mounts have earned $110,799,492 from 32,027 starts during a 28-year riding career that began in 1983.
Churchill Downs’ top 20 all-time leading jockeys:
1. Pat Day, 2,482
2. Calvin Borel, 1,000
3. Don Brumfield, 925
4. Larry Melancon, 913
5. Jim McKnight, 883
6. Robby Albarado, 869
7. Charlie Woods Jr., 757
8. Shane Sellers, 722
9. Julio Espinoza, 642
10. Patrick A. Johnson, 465
11. Mike McDowell, 452
12. Willie Martinez, 433
13. Keith Allen, 431
14. Julien Leparoux, 419
15. Earlie Fires, 403
16. Rafael Bejarano, 399
17. Jon Court, 352
18. Mark Guidry, 330
19. Shaun Bridgmohan, 286
20. Tracy Hebert, 281