Back-to-Back Milestones: Jockey Borel Gets 900th Local Victory, Trainer Amoss Earns 300th

May 15, 2009 by Darren Rogers

Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel became only the fourth rider to win 900 races in the 135-year history of Churchill Downs when Patton’s Creek Farm’s War Eagle Lady romped to a 14 ¾-length victory in Wednesday’s sixth race.

One race earlier, Tom Amoss became the ninth trainer in track history to saddle 300 local winners when Maggi Moss’ McGlamery Road prevailed in the fifth.

“I hope this is the start to a great weekend,” said Borel, who is scheduled to ride Kentucky Oaks champ Rachel Alexandra in Saturday’s 134th running of the $1.1 million Preakness Stakes – the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. Two weeks ago, Borel rode Mine That Bird to an upset win in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, but Borel and his 19-year agent Jerry Hissam agreed to ride the 20 ¼-length Oaks champ in the Preakness.

Only Pat Day (2,482 wins), Don Brumfield (925) and Larry Melancon (907) have won more races at Churchill Downs than Borel, a 42-year-old native of St. Martin, La. who won local riding titles at the 1999 and 2006 Fall Meets.

Amoss, the 47-year-old New Orleans native who won Spring Meet training titles in 2002 and ’08, joined an elite cast of horseman to win at least 300 races at Churchill Downs: Bill Mott (615), D. Wayne Lukas (466), Dale Romans (460), Bernie Flint (411), Jack Van Berg (335), Angel Montano Sr. (319), Steve Asmussen (314) and Forrest Kaelin (309).