(Edited press release)
Jockey Calvin Borel’s victory aboard James Tafel’s Street Sense in the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) was his first in the Run for the Roses, and now that special moment at Churchill Downs will take the Louisiana native to a White House state dinner in honor of Queen Elizabeth II of England.
Borel’s agent, Jerry Hissam, said May 6 that White House social secretary Amy Zantzinger had invited Borel and his fiancé Lisa Funk to travel to Washington, D.C. May 7 for the dinner hosted by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush in honor of the queen and her husband, Prince Philip.
Britain’s royal couple was on hand at Churchill Downs when Borel guided Street Sense from 19th in a 20-horse field to win the $2 million Kentucky Derby by 2 1/4 lengths. It was the first Derby victory in five attempts for the 40-year-old native of St. Martinville, La.
Although the dinner is the sixth state dinner of the Bush Administration, it is the administration’s first white-tie affair. A total of 134 guests will attend the dinner in the State Dining Room on the State Floor of the White House, which follows a reception in the East Room of the State Floor.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are scheduled to end their six-day visit to the United States and return home after the dinner.
