[5]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8fMJ...eature=related

Calvin is the last person I would expect to get into a fight.

[keepthelegend]

Javier Castellano came over on Martin Garcia and Calvin and almost caused Martin to fall off and Calvin had to take back. After the race Calvin got in Javier's face with his finger and was very upset and Javier pushed it away forcefully which made Calvin fly into a rage.

[Aussie_Dog]

Javier Castellano came over on Martin Garcia and Calvin and almost caused Martin to fall off and Calvin had to take back. After the race Calvin got in Javier's face with his finger and was very upset and Javier pushed it away forcefully which made Calvin fly into a rage.

One person on another forum made a terrific analogy with a car accident. If you're driving and another car comes over on you and both of you hit, and you go over to the other driver for the insurance info, maybe to bite into him a bit for his reckless driving, and above all, seek an apology, but that other driver just shugs his shoulders and shoves you away, you'd fly into a rage too, right? The other person explained it better, but that's the gist of it. Granted, Borel apparently grabbed Javier by the silks and Javier lashed out (in "self defense", as one will do with an angry looking athlete grabs you) and that set off the chain of reaction.

Javier got a week's suspension and both were fined (Javier got something like $2500, but Borel got the max, $5000). Javier's appealing his suspension, because one of his top horses is running in Tokyo and, naturally, he wants to be able to fulfill his commitment to ride her.

To further elaborate on the ride itself: watch the Breeders' Cup Marathon, and watch near the back coming around the last turn (at the end of the race). You'll see one rider (Javier) get closer to two horses, and suddenly one dips and trips. I'm looking for a clip that shows the closeup of how close Martin Garcia came to eating dirt.

[RainyDayRide]

Not a closeup, but you can see the near miss here a bit after 2:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2Wynme2HFY

[Timex]

then there's calvin hollering at javier 'i'm going to kill you' several times. classy, boys. there are stewards for a reason, take it up with them especially in the winner's circle at the breeder's cup, of all places.

[Stellaspeed]

It was the "I'm gonna kill you Mothafu***" that was aired live, and made my 10 year old's eyes bug right out of his head !!!

[Justa Bob]

The NTRA has nice videos of all the races (simulcast). In the marathon, after the race finishes, you can watch as the stewards replay, many times, the incident. The problem for the stewards was that on the simulcast taping the bump happened just when cameras changed from the curve to the final straight. The move happens about 2:40 and the stewards' re-runs start 4:40 or so.

http://www.ntra.com/schedule/race/display/NTc=

[dressagetraks]

I must admit, I was a little bit surprised at the fine on Calvin. For being so obviously out of control, profane, threatening to kill somebody, etc., for many minutes while on national television on our sports biggest weekend, it seemed like more than a $5000 offense. Poster above mentioned the max; I hadn't realized there was one. Still think it merited more.

And no, I wouldn't react like that on the highway. Regardless of what kind of assinine driver just nearly killed me. Driving should involve keeping control of your emotions and making level-headed decisions. So should race riding, which the public bets on. One person's error doesn't excuse somebody else going psycho over it.

I think Calvin deserves more. And that's fully recognizing the bad riding of somebody else that prompted the whole incident. Calvin was still FAR out of line. A non racing person contacted me today saying this was all over the media and was this what our sport was like? She was aghast and turned off on the entire sport. Racing should be aghast. So should Calvin. So should Calvin's wallet.

[BEARCAT]

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (AFP) – Jockeys Calvin Borel and Javier Castellano were fined Sunday for events during and after Friday's Breeders' Cup Marathon, which saw the winner's circle briefly turned into a boxing ring.

Borel was fined 5,000 dollars, the maximum allowed, "for conduct against the best interest of horse racing" after his attack on Castellano in the winner's circle after the 500,000-dollar Marathon.

Borel, incensed by Castellano's move during the race that nearly caused another rider to be unseated and also impeded Borel's mount, had to be forcibly restrained and was escorted to the jockey's room still complaining and gesticulating.

Castellano was fined 2,500 dollars for his part in the post-race incident, and he was suspended six racing days for causing interference necessitating a disqualification in the race.

The trouble started when Castellano, aboard Prince Will I Am, tried to find space for his horse but in moving right cut off Martin Garcia's mount Romp, who pitched toward the track nearly unseating Garcia.

Borel's horse A.U. Miner was jostled in the turmoil.

Eldaafer won the race, while Prince Will I Am was disqualified after crossing the line second.

Gabriel's Hill crossed the line third and was awarded second place while third went to A.U. Miner.

According to the statement from the stewards on Sunday, both jockeys waived their rights to formal hearing before the Board of Stewards.

[jaimebaker]

I watched the race over and over and Romp's tail went up in the air and it looked like his head was actually in between his legs about to go into a full on somersault when somehow, by the grace of God, he corrected himself. I'm sure they've done a complete workup on him but I'm amazed the horse wasn't catastrophically injured. And honestly? I would have whipped the crap out of Castellano too. Also, Calvin just put his finger in Castellano's face. Castellano threw the first punch which was why all hell broke loose and I think he should have been fined more.

[dressagetraks]

Calvin hunted down the other rider to confront him noisily and publicly - the ESPN reporter was on that even before the fight started, and she made it clear that Calvin went looking for Castellano. But regardless, somebody pushing away someone who is in his face or even outright throwing the first punch does not excuse the other person going utterly psycho crazy for 10 minutes and losing all rational thought.

Totally agree on the severity of the incident in the race. Thank God all returned safely. But Martin Garcia, affected even more than Calvin, managed to comport himself appropriately afterward, filing an objection and leaving it in the hands of the stewards. He showed the self-control Calvin utterly lacked - based off the same incident.

My respect for Garcia went way up on Friday, for his actions during the race and afterward. My respect for Castellano went down - it definitely was a horrible riding decision. My respect for Calvin dropped by far the most. He was way out of proportion; there is no excuse for a 10-minute psycho spell like that regardless of what anybody else did to you.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Also, Calvin just put his finger in Castellano's face. Castellano threw the first punch which was why all hell broke loose and I think he should have been fined more.

He did more than put his finger in his face. Borel grabbed Castellano and shook him several times while screaming in his face about how he was going to kill him (you didn't see that on the ESPN coverage), then he got up his face with his hand. At that point Castellano reacted and then Borel went beserk.
I know everybody wants to love Borel, because of his aw shucks Derby escapades, but Borel was waaaaaaaaaaay out of line. No matter how pissed he was, that was not the way to deal with it. He should be sanctioned for bringing the game into disrepute. Last thing the game needs is someone screaming about killing someone on live TV while looking like a deranged cross between and skinhead and meth freak.
You'll notice Garcia, the one who almost hit the floor, didn't get stupid about it all.

[jaimebaker]

Well, all I saw was Borel put his finger in Castellano's face. And no, I'm not all loves and bunnies for Borel either.

[Iron Horse Farm]

Wow! Who cares? There was a televised Nascar fight today and anyone ever see a hockey game. Racing looks a bit tame.

[fivehorses]

Wow! Who cares? There was a televised Nascar fight today and anyone ever see a hockey game. Racing looks a bit tame.

really I feel the same way. I mean these guys are riding race horses going at speeds that can become catastrophic in a collision.
I am not saying it is admirable, but come on...someone turned off to the sport from that one incident. what did they do, just wake up yesterday and watch racing for their first time???! That seems a bit over the top in a reaction.

[Paragon]

Meanwhile, I've had plenty of friends and acquaintances say "Wow, that was crazy! Tell me what happened." First interest they've ever shown in horse racing. Guess that's how it goes when our athletes act like the athletes in every other sport.

[spirithorse]

Thats ok, I saw the ex jockey espn commenter throw a hugh tantrum several years ago in the jocks room............aint nobody perfect.

[crittertwitter]

meh, someone can't hold their adrenaline.

Not a Calvin fan, but it's one incident. Hopefully he has the self-reflexiveness to learn from this. Same for Castellano. I can see being furious when someone makes a seriously unsafe move and affects the race that way. I actually thought this happened quite a bit in racing, though. And sometimes with oblivion.

[Madeline]

... Also, Calvin just put his finger in Castellano's face. Castellano threw the first punch which was why all hell broke loose and I think he should have been fined more.

I agree with this. Castellano did throw the first punch. I was surprised that Castellano didn't get more "days off."

On the plus side, we now know for sure that Borel races with his lower teeth, at least.

[Miss J]

It was the "I'm gonna kill you Mothafu***" that was aired live, and made my 10 year old's eyes bug right out of his head !!!

i know it's not funny but I giggled about your comment on your ten year old! my son would have said: "he owes a dollar to the swear jar" he makes a lot of money from his uncle