Alcohol puts jockeys Borel, Tyler Baze in hot water

by Paulick Report Staff | 08.21.2011 | 10:01pm

Calvin Borel, three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, a 2011 Hall of Fame finalist, and currently leading rider at Ellis Park in Kentucky, was arrested in Evansville, Ind., Saturday for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

Borel, 44, reportedly was stopped by police at about 10 p.m. as he was pulling into a hotel in Evansville where he has been staying. Borel was released on a $100 bond Sunday morning from the Vanderburgh County Jail, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal, which quoted Borel’s agent, Jerry Hissam, saying the jockey’s blood-alcohol level was slightly over the 0.08 legal limit in Indiana. Borel is due in court on Monday.

Meanwhile, Daily Racing Form reports that Tyler Baze, the 2000 Eclipse Award-winning apprenctice jockey, has been off his mounts at Del Mar since Friday after failing a breathalyzer test earlier that day. The Form said Baze arrived at the track to view films of an incident that occurred on Thursday, and his behavior led stewards to send the 28-year-old jockey to the track physician, who tested Baze both for pain medication and alcohol. Steward Scott Chaney told the Form tests were negative for pain medication but that Baze was over the legal limit for alcohol. Baze is to meet on Wednesday with stewards to determine whether he can ride his scheduled mounts that day.

Baze previously failed a brethalyzer test and taken off his mount in the $500,000 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park in October 2005.

Baze currently ranks ninth in the Del Mar rider standings with nine victories from 106 mounts.

Previous published reports, quoting his agent, Craig O’Bryan, said Baze took himself off mounts because of a tailbone injury.

New to the Paulick Report? Click here to sign up for our daily email newsletter to keep up on this and other stories happening in the Thoroughbred industry

BourbonCountyGal

Wake-up calls for both of them, hopefully. They are both so talented. Poor Calvin looks way older than 44. It’s a tough life and constant starvation must wear the soul down to the bone.
John Merriweather

And don’t forget Mike Smith’s recent DUI.
broadway

typical racetrack cover up on baze. saying his back hurt.the truth shall set you free.
Pete Sena

Please – Cover up—Ok Nutrition 101-Jocks needin to stay race weight-will turn to alcohol to surpress the appitite—Also Jock–One I know Has 1 of my disabilities–He wont drink–BUT-a drink for a litle man is like my sorry my 12 yoear old weight–Im a cop–And (disabled) for me to blow over–is ez with the NEW rules but i weigh 240–Amost 2N 1/2 jockeys—a sip of cough syrup will send them over—Cut them some slack—-Its a Punishing life—And if a soul has isues why bury him with gossip Bull shft—Aint Cool–Little Kid Talk —-
Gonzalez

Thanks Ray, This is vital information. It is most appreciated.
pragmatist

Sorry Pete, if you want sympathy, look elsewhere, it’s typical moron jockey behavior. There is no excuse for it and absolutely zero tolerance of it.
bookiebuster1

I hope Tyler gets back in recovery soon because this is a really serious issue for him and its evident his riding has been suffering as well. Might finally be time for a change in scenery for him.
http://https viper

awareness is critical, thank God these guy’s got caught before they hurt som1.
Pete Sena, If your a cop then you know & probably seen these drunk drivers, and the trouble it could cause.
Of all people , T.Baze, look what happened to this guy’s cousin (MC0 very sad. Borel 44 y.o. great jockey not like he’s a kid & doesnt know any better, good luck to these guys GET HELP !!!!!!!
–Cut them some slack—-Its a Punishing life—And if a soul has isues why bury him with gossip …. you say.
what about GET SOME HELP, before they KILL som1 on the street. Hopefully it wont be one of my children or your’s. Maybe AA would be a start. G.Gomez Bailey, P.Day & many others have.
Paul Pasiczek

Once is a mistake, twice is a problem. . .
dmd

Jockeys are athletes who need to train hard to stay in shape for the rigors of their jobs.
If they cut loose a little and have a few drinks, which sounds like the case for Smith and Borel, for heaven’s sake, they should call a taxi for a ride home or somebody else should do it for them.
lizscorgi

Lets have a treatment program on the backside for Jockeys, trainers, grooms and etc. it is neeed
brenda

sad….calvin is old enough to figure things out but tyler this is devastating..get help tyler!
Backontop

Pete Sena,
If you truly are a cop, then you’re an idiot! This type of excuse for driving drunk (pretty sure he drove to the track for his meeting with the Stewards) is just sad. You should become one of those low life attorney’s that represent people like Baze, Smith and Borel and tell jurors your sad cough syrup stories. Your little sad story might be able to get someone off for a DUI homicide.
I Davis

Coming up with a .08 is not exactly drunk….especially for a person who weighs 120 lb.or less. It’s basically 2 glasses of wine or two beers….that’s far from beng drunk. Let’s show some common sense.
http://https viper

I. Davis, i’m gonna believe the police here. C. Borel was pulled up for DUI, tell it to the judge. .08 is legally over the limit in that state , period.
Or maybe som1 .08 alcohol level hits your car, maybe som1 in your car or yourself is in critical condition, what you gonna say, oh it was an accident it was only .08 alcohol level..
come on lets show common sense
Six feet deep

Death of a relative is tough to take , don’t follow in those foot steps tb get help kid
Backontop

I Davis,
Show some common sense yourself! Coming up over 0.8 is drunk in Kentucky that’s why he was arrested. And Tyler blew over in the middle of the day before reporting to the Stewards to view films.

For the life of me I will never understand why people make excuses for driving over the limit! If your small and it takes 2 drinks to be over then use some COMMON SENSE and have 1 drink. One drink with lunch isn’t enough before riding in races?

The problem with common sense is that it is not that common!!!!!
stillriledup

drunk drivers should be prosecuted for attempted murder. first offense, 1 year in jail. Zero tolerance.
Backontop

stillriedup,

You get my vote!!!!
http://www.savehollywoodpark.info Tressa MacKelvie

There are two kinds of drinking – 1) to celebrate, 2) to numb. Both will land you in trouble. Believe me, I speak from experience!
1)You enjoy the moment with your friends, have to get home safely, may wake up feeling groggy, not on top of the world for a few hours ’cause you’re not used to drinking or your body rejects alcohol or drugs. 2)It puts you in a mental psyche that sets you back a few paces, not feeling too good about yourself, your confidence shaky. (Really crappy feeling)
Both of you – no, all of you jockeys – go back to the HORSE, I don’t care if you go sleep in the stall with the HORSE until you feel comfortable to leave and go home to human companionship, you all go look them in the eye and talk to them. This sport is not about you. It is about the HORSE.
You have it in you to do this, otherwise, you wouldn’t be on the backside every morning.
I have the utmost respect for you. It doesn’t matter how many times you win. What matters is that you are doing whatever you can to help the HORSE. I judge you on the way you perform with the horse, not your winnings.
This is horse racing, not jockey racing, though many times it is a strategic race between jockeys. But in every strategic jockey race, it comes down to the HORSE, right?
So, go to the barns. Talk to the HORSES. HUG A HORSE.
There is nothing better for the soul.