Borel’s big day on hold
Wrist fracture sidelines jockey
HOT SPRINGS — Jockey Calvin Borel will have to wait approximately three more weeks to have a chance to record his 5,000th career victory.
Only hours after Borel was named to ride five horses Friday, the first day of Oaklawn Park’s 56day live season, his wife Lisa posted on Facebook onTuesday afternoon that the jockey had a minor wrist fracture.
Calvin Borel’s longtime agent, Jerry Hissam of Hot Springs, confirmed the injury and said he believed the jockey would miss approximately three weeks.
The injury means Borel, who has 4,999 career victories, won’t have a chance to record No. 5,000 until late January, at the earliest.
Borel, 46, worked horses Tuesday morning, but Hissam said the jockey stung his wrist Monday or Tuesday. The wrist began swelling after training hours Tuesday morning, Hissam said.
“X-rays show what Calvin thought was a bad wrist sprain actually involves a minor fracture that will require a cast,” Lisa Borel posted on Facebook. “Our doctors believe he’ll be out about 18 days. Will keep everyone posted.”
Borel is trying to become just the 26th jockey in North American history
to reach 5,000 victories, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization.
Borel and Hissam were in Little Rock on Monday afternoon to observe the printing of 30,000 Calvin Borel trading cards issued by the city of Hot Springs. The cards will be distributed to fans at Oaklawn on the day Borel reaches 5,000 career victories.
Borel was Oaklawn’s leading rider in 1995 and 2001.