From match races at bush tracks in Cajun country to three Kentucky Derby wins to induction into racing's Hall of Fame, no jockey worked harder than Calvin Borel.
He won at Delta Downs in his home state of Louisiana. He's won more races at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas than any other rider. He's won more races at Churchill Downs than any other rider except Pat Day.
He won the Derby with 50-1 long shot Mine That Bird in 2009. He won the Preakness Stakes two weeks later with the great filly Rachel Alexandra. He won the Woodward Stakes with the star filly in the summer of "09 at Saratoga Springs, a race that rocked the Spa like it's never been rocked before.
And he took it all in with smiles, a few tears, and a finger pointed skyward. His view many times came from the rail, where his daring rides along the inside of the track earned him the nickname "Bo-rail."
On Wednesday, Borel called it a career, telling his agent Larry Melancon in a phone call, "This is what I want to do. This is the end of it."
The 49-year-old rider is based at Oaklawn Park, and officials at the Arkansas track said Borel was scheduled to ride seven horses in the next three days, but took off all his rides.
Former longtime agent and close friend Jerry Hissam said he talked to Borel and "he said it was time. It was just time."
Borel is the only jockey to win three Derbies in four years. He rode Street Sense to victory in 2007, won again with Mine That Bird and won the next year with Super Saver.
The Cajun won 5,146 races in a career that covered 33 years.