Borel and Invasor lead class into Racing Hall of Fame

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Saratoga Springs, NY (Sports Network) - Jockey Calvin Borel and former Horse of the Year Invasor top the class of 2013 that was inducted Friday into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame.

Joining Borel and Invasor were two-time Eclipse Award winner Housebuster and double Breeders' Cup Mile winner Lure. The Museum's Steeplechase Review Committee selected McDynamo and Tuscalee for induction. Planet and jockey Anthony Hamilton were chosen by the Historic Review Committee.

August Belmont II and Paul Mellon are being recognized as the first Pillars of the Turf. The new classification is an effort to bring to light the people who have played important parts to the sport of thoroughbred racing.

Borel, a native of Louisiana, is a three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, getting to the winner's circle at Churchill Downs with Street Sense (2007), Mine That Bird (2009) and Super Saver (2010). Now in his 31st year of riding, Borel has won more than 5,000 races for more than $122 million.

For the 2006 racing year, Invasor was named Horse of the Year and champion Older Male after capturing the Breeders' Cup Classic. Highlighted by a win in the 2007 Dubai World Cup, Invasor earned more than $7.8 million with 11 wins in 12 lifetime starts.

Housebuster was a two-time Eclipse Award winner as champion Sprinter in 1990-91. Owned by Bob Levy, Housebuster won 15 of 22 career starts for $1,229,696.

Bred and owned by Claiborne Farm, Lure won the Breeders' Cup Mile in 1992 and 1993. He finished his career with 14 wins in 25 starts for better than $2.5 million.

Owned by Michael J. Moran and trained by Sanna Hendriks, McDynamo won half of his 34 career starts and retired as the all-time leading money earner among steeplechase horses with $1,310,104. He won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Steeplechase Horse in 2003, 2005, and 2006.

Tuscalee, bred and owned by Alfred H. Smith Sr., won 39 of 89 career starts with career earnings of $130,917 while racing from 1963 through 1972. His 37 wins remains the all-time record for steeplechase victories. Trained by Joe Aitcheson Sr, Tuscalee retired with $130,917 in earnings.

Planet won 27 of 31 career starts before being retired in 1861 as a 6-year- old.

Hamilton was a native of Charleston, S.C. born the year after the end of the Civil War. He became the only black rider to win the Brooklyn, Suburban and Metropolitan Handicaps. In 1889 Hamilton finished second in the Belmont Stakes aboard 4-5 favorite Diablo, losing by a head to Eric in a three horse field.

August Belmont II founded Belmont Park in 1905 at which time the Belmont Stakes, named for his father, was moved there. He served as chairman of both The Jockey Club and the New York Racing Commission and was among the founding members of The Jockey Club in 1894 and served as its chairman from 1895 until his death in 1924. He was also a founding member of the National Steeplechase Association in 1895.

Paul Mellon founded Rokeby Stables in 1948. He twice won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder in 1971 and 1986.

Mellon campaigned future Hall of Fame thoroughbreds Arts and Letters and Fort Marcy along with 1993 Kentucky Derby and Travers winner Sea Hero and 1964 Belmont Stakes winner Quadrangle.