Jockey Calvin Borel, who has been in the spotlight over the last five weeks as a result of victories in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (gr. I), is assisting in the effort to obtain video lottery terminals at racetracks in Kentucky.
Borel, who won his second Derby with Mine That Bird and the Preakness and Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) with Rachel Alexandra, is featured in a radio commercial and an upcoming mail piece, both sponsored by the Kentucky Equine Education Project, the organization said in a June 8 release.
Gov. Steve Beshear has included VLTs at racetracks to the agenda for an upcoming special session of the Kentucky legislature that will focus on the state’s budget problems. A Louisiana native, Borel relocated to Kentucky 12 years ago.
“I moved to Kentucky 12 years ago to be in the middle of the horse capital of the world,” Borel said in the KEEP statement, “and now all I see are horses, trainers and jobs leaving to go to other states. If we don’t do something soon, our industry will disappear.”
KEEP’s statement noted that 11 of the 12 closest states that Kentucky competes with in the racing industry have started enhancing purses and supplementing their breeder incentive programs with resources from expanded gaming.
A KEEP spokeswoman said Borel is not being compensated for his time or endorsement of the slots’ effort.