Broken jaw sidelines Borel for 5 to 6 weeks

Jockey Calvin Borel could be released from a Louisville, Ky., hospital as early as Tuesday after undergoing surgery for a broken jaw on Sunday, and is expected to be sidelined for five to six weeks, said his agent, Jerry Hissam.

Borel was injured when thrown from his mount, Aces N Kings, in the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot on Saturday.

“He’s in very good spirits,” said his agent, Jerry Hissam. “This is No. 40 in bones broken. He understands the game.”

Borel, 44, broke his jaw on both sides in the incident, and his mouth is wired shut. Borel should be ready for the upcoming meet at Oaklawn Park, said Hissam, and is scheduled to start working horses at the Hot Springs, Ark., track between Jan. 5-10. The meet opens Jan. 14.

Borel went down after Aces N Kings bolted in the Jackpot.

“The horse locked his stifle, lost his action,” Hissam said. “Another horse’s foot caught [Calvin] underneath his chin. He was fortunate to walk away from it.”

Borel had a laceration in the chin area that was tended to by the emergency medical team at Delta Down in Vinton, La., then shortly afterward he flew home to Louisville, Ky. Hissam said that when the rider got into Kentucky at about 10:15 p.m. local time, he was taken to Jewish Hospital. He had X-rays taken at that point, the broken jaw was diagnosed about an hour later, and he had surgery at 1 p.m. Sunday. He was out of recovery by 5:30 p.m., said Hissam.

Hissam said Borel has received get-well wishes from Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear.

Borel has won three of the last four Kentucky Derbies, and was the regular rider on 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. He is a resident of Louisville, and winters each year at Oaklawn.