Gary Stevens retires due to spinal injury

[Tom]

https://www.drf.com/news/spinal-injury-forces-gary-stevens-retire-saddle

Sad. His comeback was great for racing.
Too bad he can't continue.

Wish him well.

[Andy Asaro]

https://twitter.com/racetrackandy/status/1064958852624375808

[Andy Asaro]

https://twitter.com/BloodHorse/status/1064968414937186305

[bobphilo]

He was a great rider and I'm sorry to see him go. At least he retires "without being in a wheelchair" as he says.

[v j stauffer]

One of the GREAT riders of all time. Close to top 10 ten of all that ever rode. Certainly a no brainer to put him in the top 20. A master at race tactics. A true horseman that applied that knowledge to riding. Very glad to see Gary leave on his own terms. Got to know him much better last season when he rode the entire meeting at Oaklawn. Wishing him nothing but the best with the rest of his career. For our sake let's hope he stays in racing in some capacity. :ThmbUp:

[chadk66]

sad news but man what a career. and what a great guy. Scott too. Just super people

[Augenj]

A great rider and a class act besides giving me a 60/1 future book winner in Las Vegas (Winning Colors) oh so long ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfYp6_CWFac

As they approached the wire, I remember dropping to the floor and pounding it, my dog barking at Dad's strange behavior. :)

[Psychotic Parakeet]

Beholder was the icing on the cake for him at the end of his career. I'll never forget that gutsy and patient effort that he gave in the stretch during the BC Distaff against Songbird. That was an incredible race!

At least he is able to walk away from this, as others were not so lucky. Sad to see his was pretty much the last remnant of what was a great jockey colony in Southern California.

[olddaddy]

I would think he will be back at Tvg soon.

[GMB@BP]

One of the good guys in the game, class act.

[Andy Asaro]

I wouldn't be surprised if he does a little acting.

[098poi]

I am not sorry at all. I am happy for him. He's 55 and has a lot of life left in him. Wish him the best. :ThmbUp::ThmbUp:

[Andy Asaro]

https://twitter.com/angieastevens1/status/1064960683979112448

[rastajenk]

I wouldn't be surprised if he does a little acting.He and I were in Seabiscuit together. :popcorn:
I would think he will be back at Tvg soon.I'd be good with him replacing Jerry Bailey. I got nothing against Jerry personally, but even Phil Simms and Tim McCarver didn't last forever. Although sometimes it seemed liked McCarver did.

[dilanesp]

The fact that he got to come back and ride Oxbow, Beholder, and Mucho Macho Man to huge stakes wins is one of the great stories in sports.

He's one of the best riders I have ever seen, actually. Rarely made a mistake (although I am sure he would like to have the 1986 BC Classic back :) ).

[sour grapes]

The fact that he got to come back and ride Oxbow, Beholder, and Mucho Macho Man to huge stakes wins is one of the great stories in sports.

He's one of the best riders I have ever seen, actually. Rarely made a mistake (although I am sure he would like to have the 1986 BC Classic back :) ).

i remember him saying he gave Alysheba a bad ride in the Belmont,that it cost him 2nd,and some bonus that was given that year.Dont think their were many others though,one of the best riders i have seen.

[the little guy]

i remember him saying he gave Alysheba a bad ride in the Belmont,that it cost him 2nd,and some bonus that was given that year.Dont think their were many others though,one of the best riders i have seen.

Chris McCarron rode Alysheba.

[bello]

Chris McCarron rode Alysheba.

You are a human encyclopedia of NYRA races. I somehow scored tickets to the VIP room that year (1987) with all the celebrities and big shots. What a great day.

Of course the big controversy about that Belmont was the inability of Alysheba to use Lasix. How times have changed.....not sure for the good of the game.

[HalvOnHorseracing]

sad news but man what a career. and what a great guy. Scott too. Just super people

I had a long talk with him once. At first he was very reticent to say much, but eventually I got him to open up and we had a really nice conversation.

Maybe he'll go back to acting.

[bello]

He was also great in the ill fated Luck series on HBO

I don't think Gary needs to ride to earn a nice living

[Spalding No!]

He's one of the best riders I have ever seen, actually. Rarely made a mistake (although I am sure he would like to have the 1986 BC Classic back :) ).
Never mind the 1998 BC Classic...

[dilanesp]

Never mind the 1998 BC Classic...

Actually I always thought his worst Silver Charm ride was the Santa Anita Derby.

But he had a bunch of good rides on the horse too.

[Grits]

Wishing him the best in all he does in the future. Truly, one of the great riders of the sport!

[ultracapper]

Didn't he get 3rd on Winning Colors in the Preakness.

I mean, considering the trouble encountered around the 1st turn, you gotta think not too bad.

[Augenj]

Didn't he get 3rd on Winning Colors in the Preakness.

I mean, considering the trouble encountered around the 1st turn, you gotta think not too bad.
I think it was third but can't remember. Woody Stephens had Pat Day carry Winning Colors really wide probably because of the Derby loss IMHO.

[Andy Asaro]

https://twitter.com/GStevens_jockey/status/1065427223555932161

[GMB@BP]

Never mind the 1998 BC Classic...

being perfect is tough to obtain

[bobphilo]

I think it was third but can't remember. Woody Stephens had Pat Day carry Winning Colors really wide probably because of the Derby loss IMHO.

I remember that Stevens was really pissed at Woody Stephens in the post race interview about that and for telling Day to engage Winning Colors in a speed duel with Forty Niner getting them both beat. He said something like, there is one man responsible for today and we all know who he is.

[Spalding No!]

being perfect is tough to obtain
...and sometimes one makes it tougher than it needs to be...

[Andy Asaro]

https://twitter.com/racetrackandy/status/1065958140569575425

[ultracapper]

I remember that Stevens was really pissed at Woody Stephens in the post race interview about that and for telling Day to engage Winning Colors in a speed duel with Forty Niner getting them both beat. He said something like, there is one man responsible for today and we all know who he is.

If it would have been a speed duel that would have been understandable, but driving her out to the 5 path in the first turn was the rub.

The thing is, with the way Forty Niner ran in the Derby, you would have thought he was very live in the Preakness. You would have thought he could have beat her straight up.

Never mind the fact that neither one of them were going to beat Risen Star anyhow. That's another horse, like Afleet Alex, that had things gone right in the Derby, he very well could have been a TC winner.

That was one of the few things I know of that Stephens ever did that was unforgivable, and I'm sure Stevens to this day hasn't.

[Andy Asaro]

https://twitter.com/GStevens_jockey/status/1066341077647413249

[Blenheim]

That picture says a thousand words . . .

I remember betting on Steve back when he was the leading jock at Longacres. Had a lot of fun watching and betting on him; one of the reasons why I love the sport.

Hope he stays well.

[Andy Asaro]

https://twitter.com/GStevens_jockey/status/1066689266346946560

[bobphilo]

https://twitter.com/GStevens_jockey/status/1066341077647413249


Shocked, but not surprised to hear that Stevens could not eat more than 1 meal a day while riding. So glad that Stevens is able to return to a normal healthy lifestyle where he does not have to starve himself to make weight.
Poor Randy Romero lost all his teeth due to stomach acid from vomiting to make weight as well as his kidneys and permanent damage to several major organs from malnutrition, dehydration and excessive diet pill and laxative use. Glad Gary was able to get out with his health and in his own words, "not in a wheelchair".

[Andy Asaro]

Shocked, but not surprised to hear that Stevens could not eat more than 1 meal a day while riding. So glad that Stevens is able to return to a normal healthy lifestyle where he does not have to starve himself to make weight.
Poor Randy Romero lost all his teeth due to stomach acid from vomiting to make weight as well as his kidneys and permanent damage to several major organs from malnutrition, dehydration and excessive diet pill and laxative use. Glad Gary was able to get out with his health and in his own words, "not in a wheelchair".

Gary has a great wife as well. Angie is very cool.

[Southbaygent]

I was at Del Mar Saturday for his retirement recognition. The crowd really got into it, and the video highlights shown on big board. Gary brought all the accolades and talk to an end himself stating “well it’s post time....” and that ended the tribute!

[Andy Asaro]

https://twitter.com/GStevens_jockey/status/1070000290236153857

[Andy Asaro]

https://twitter.com/GStevens_jockey/status/1071560953324400641

[Prioress Ply]

I think this is his fifth retirement. He just hates the attention I know.

[PaceAdvantage]

I think this is his fifth retirement. He just hates the attention I know.Dicks will be dicks.

[Andy Asaro]

https://twitter.com/angieastevens1/status/1075221807760736256

[Andy Asaro]

https://twitter.com/GStevens_jockey/status/1077054117439131651