Horse Racing - Famous Jockeys Bios
Gary Stevens
Stevens began his riding career in 1979 then in 1993 Gary became the youngest jockey to surpass the $100 million dollars in purse earnings. He was the leading money winning jockey in 1990 with $19.8 million in purses and 1998 with $13.8 million. Stevens ranked among the top 10 money winners from 1985-99 and in 2001. Gary Stevens won the inaugural National Jockey Championship at Lone Star Park in 1997.
In 1998 Stevens won the Eclipse Award as the nation's top jockey and he was awarded the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1996. He was president of the Jockey's Guild in 1997.
On October 4, 2000, Gary Stevens resumed his riding career after a ten-month retirement. In late 1999, rider Stevens underwent surgery. He began riding again on December 26, 1999, opening day at Santa Anita, then he announced his retiring later on.
During much of his retirement, Stevens worked as an assistant trainer for Alex Hassinger of The Thoroughbred Corp. He returned to riding after an insurance settlement was reached with Lloyd's of London. In 2000 he finished the year with 36 wins and earnings of $3,167,958.
Through 2002, Stevens has had 4,691 wins and has won $206,293,634. He has won 28 races with purses of $1 million or more.
By 2003, Stevens had eight Triple Crown victories: Three Kentucky Derbys: Winning Colors in 1988, Thunder Gulch in 1995, and Silver Charm in 1997. Stevens also achieved Two Preakness Stakes: Point Given in 2001 and Silver Charm in 1997. Two Belmont Stakes: Thunder Gulch in 1995 and Victory Gallop in 1998. In total, Gary Stevens won eight Breeders' Cup races.
The Racing Hall of Fame inducted Stevens in 1997 at the age of 34, the second youngest jockey to be voted in.
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