Borunda Adds Flair to Jock’s Room at Hoosier Park
By Hannah Gentry
Dave Borunda, or as most people call him “Super Dave,” returns to Hoosier Park Racing & Casino for his second season as a valet in the jocks room. Although this may only be his second season at Hoosier Park, Borunda is no rookie to the horse business. Growing up around racing, he knew at a young age that this would be something he was passionate about and interested in pursuing as a career. Today, Borunda has worked in over 14 different jocks rooms and has been a valet for 25 years.
Borunda was born and raised in West Texas
and his grandparents were his second parents. They raised him
most of the time and his grandfather was involved with
racehorses. His grandfather was also involved in the rodeo
business. Also, his neighbor was a jockey, which sparked his
interest in the horse racing business.
Finally, Borunda got old enough to gallop horses. A friend, who had also been a jockey, mentioned that he should try working as a valet for the jockeys. When Borunda was only 19 years old, he began working in the jocks room as a valet and has been doing it ever since.
“It’s been a ride,” said Borunda. “It’s a different kind of job, but a great place to work. You build a strong relationship with these guys. It’s like we are all brothers. There are a lot of laughs to have and you know that everyone has your back. It’s your bothers in the room that motivate me to be so positive. You stick together and the comradeship brings you back. At the end of the night, when everyone comes back safe, that’s what makes it all worth it.”
Other than being a valet, Borunda has galloped horses and has been an assistant trainer for Randy Nunley in Tampa for a couple of seasons.
“I gave a little run at being a jockey in high school,” said Borunda. “But that didn’t go over well. I just didn’t have the talent for it. I wanted to do something I knew I would be good at.”
A typical day for Borunda consists of getting up early to gallop horses for trainer Barbara McBride. There is a little time in between his work in the barn area in the morning and before the races begin in the evening. Before the races start, Borunda comes in and works with partner Dusty Ford, preparing his jockeys for the day.
Ford and Borunda separate the laundry for the jockeys, mark the board to see what races they ride, what weights they carry on the horses they ride, and what silks are assigned to their jockeys. Each jockey may like a certain amount of goggles or use tinted goggles while riding. They also need a clean pair of boots for every race. Each of these important details is crucial to each race and each individual jockey.
“You hustle your riders to get ready for each race, and then you hustle to saddle your horses that are assigned to you,” said Borunda. “This whole business is a hustle.”
Being a valet isn’t easy work. It’s a very fast paced position and very demanding. Patience is key in this position. With every jockey there is a different relationship and each race can go in any way. It’s not only about preparing the jockey and the horses for the races, it’s also about managing the mood of the room.
“You just have to deal with it,” said Borunda about the different moods and personalities in the jocks room. “You have to understand it is part of the game and there is a lot a stake for these guys.”
Borunda travels to different states and different tracks throughout the seasons continuing his work as a valet. It’s all about who you know when it comes to getting into different jocks rooms.
“It definitely helps to have experience,” said Borunda. “I gallop horses in the morning and I’ve done so for several years. This helps you build trust in your ability to work in high-pressure situations. It takes some nerve to do the saddling of the horses. A lot of times it’s not the horses that can hurt you but the people that are handling them that may be scared. You have to be on your toes constantly.”
Anyone who has been lucky enough to meet Borunda, or “Super Dave” has definitely encountered a unique individual. Everyone knows him by his nickname and his flashy smile. He takes pride in his work at Hoosier Park and his charismatic energy can captivate a room full a people.
Photo by Linscott Photography