Oaklawn: Training resumes with Borel watching, on the mend

Barbara D. Livingston

Jockey Calvin Borel is sitting at 4,999 career victories.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Horses were back training at Oaklawn Park on Wednesday after a three-day hiatus, and jockey Calvin Borel found himself in the unusual position of watching the proceedings. Borel has been healing from an injury to his left wrist that has put his bid for 5,000 career victories on hold. But during a visit to Oaklawn on Wednesday, he said he was quite hopeful the cast he is wearing will be removed in 14 days.

“I’m doing good,” he said. “I go back to the doctor on Tuesday.”

Borel is sitting at 4,999 career victories and was named to ride five horses on Oaklawn’s opening card Jan. 11. But three days before the start of the meet he was found to have broken a small bone in his wrist. Borel said a horse had flipped with him in the starting gate a few days earlier. At the time, he believed he had just sprained his wrist. But when he went home after working horses Jan. 8, he experienced some swelling in the wrist after picking up a ladder. He proceeded to go to the doctor.

Borel, 47, is a three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby who annually winters at Oaklawn.

Oaklawn had to cancel racing last Saturday and Sunday after more than two inches of rain fell just before first post on Saturday. Flooding created a washout area near the 7 1/2-furlong pole, and training was canceled Sunday and Monday so repairs could be made. Tuesday, freezing temperatures forced the cancellation of training. The track was expected to have resumed racing as scheduled on Thursday.