Posted on 05/08/2007 6:02:44 AM PDT by PissAndVinegar
Jockey Calvin Borel’s victory aboard James Tafel’s Street Sense in the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) was his first in the Run for the Roses, and now that special moment at Churchill Downs will take the Louisiana native to a White House state dinner in honor of Queen Elizabeth II of England.
Borel’s agent, Jerry Hissam, said May 6 that White House social secretary Amy Zantzinger had invited Borel and his fiancé Lisa Funk to travel to Washington, D.C. May 7 for the dinner hosted by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush in honor of the queen and her husband, Prince Philip.
Britain’s royal couple was on hand at Churchill Downs when Borel guided Street Sense from 19th in a 20-horse field to win the $2 million Kentucky Derby by 2 1/4 lengths. It was the first Derby victory in five attempts for the 40-year-old native of St. Martinville, La.
Although the dinner is the sixth state dinner of the Bush Administration, it is the administration’s first white-tie affair. A total of 134 guests will attend the dinner in the State Dining Room on the State Floor of the White House, which follows a reception in the East Room of the State Floor.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are scheduled to end their six-day visit to the United States and return home after the dinner.
Follow-up story:
http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=38832
(obligitory AP Bush bash omitted)
“Washington turned out adoring schoolchildren and ladies in hats for Queen Elizabeth II’s visit. The White House, too, laid on special touches at President Bush’s first-ever white-tie state dinner to honor America’s closest ally and make the queen feel welcome.
The centuries-old vermeil flatware and candelabras came from a London silversmith. A made-of-sugar replica of the queen’s 1953 coronation rose graced the cake. English farmhouse cheeses accompanied the salad course.
And the traditional “special guest” invited only at the last minute was sure to be of interest to an avid horse enthusiast such as the queen: Calvin Borel, the jockey who rode Street Sense to victory in the Kentucky Derby this weekend with the royals in attendance.
“It’s just like winning the Kentucky Derby — it might even be better,” Borel said as he arrived for the dinner.”
I want to know about those jewels around the Queens neck.
I heard she brought like a dozen hat boxes along for her trip.
I think it’s cool that she wears hat and gloves.
I think the only place I see America woman wearing them is at Potters church on tv.
Pretty fancy company for a coonass boy from SW Louisiana.
Why are they inviting him?
The HORSE won the race, it did all the athletics. Why does this guy get the credit??
So where do you find white tie and tails, and a fancy gown for his fiance, on that short a notice?
I am having a hard time reading this morning. I thought the headline said “Borat to Join President, Queen at White House Dinner.”
Clearly you know nothing about horse racing, or competing horses in any venue. It is not one-sided; it is a partnership between horse and rider.
You got dat right, chèr.
“The HORSE won the race, it did all the athletics. Why does this guy get the credit??”
The horse’s reward comes when he is retired and put out to stud...
I would love to see an article on how this was accomplished...unless Borel had a tux in his closet, how did he find one in his size so quickly?
So what I want to know is, who did the Queen have in the race? Don’t tell me she went to the Derby and didn’t get a bet down!
I suggest you read the book SEA BISCUIT or rent the film...then maybe you will understand the sport of horseracing.
I am having a hard time reading this morning. I thought the headline said “Borat to Join President, Queen at White House Dinner.”
Me too!
I’m disappointed, Borat would have been interesting.
You’ve never ridden a horse, have you. . .I thought not.
Oh, you mean that without a “leader” in control the horse would only be so much unfocussed energy, etc. etc.?
Well, couldn’t you say that about any sports team? Without a coach to organize and focus all those disparate talents, the “team” would only raw, aimless energy.
So, by your logic, only the head coach should be congratulated when the team wins; those who did the actual work are not to be equally recognized.
(And I HAVE ridden horses before.)
Borel wore tails, not a tux.
Until the turn of the last century only tails were worn when one ‘dressed’ for dinner. Then a gentleman who lived in Tuxedo Park, NY, went to his tailor and asked him to remove the tails from his jacket. The dinner jacket was born. It became a huge success and because it originated in Tuxedo Park it became known as a tuxedo - but NOT in Tuxedo Park. The semi-formal tail-less jacket is known in Tuxedo Park as a dinner jacket.
White tie (and white gold or platinum cufflinks) are worn with the formal tails while black tie and gold links are worn with the semi-formal dinner jacket.
I’d rather Borat joined the party than Borel.
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