Hall of Fame Gary Stevens Announces Retirement

In a press conference held at historic Churchill Downs, Hall of Fame jockey and three-time Kentucky Derby winner Gary Stevens announced his retirement from riding after a 26-year career and revealed plans to move into the broadcast booth as a racing analyst with TVG, the interactive horse racing network.

“There is a piece of my heart that would love to continue riding, but my body can’t take it anymore,” said Stevens. “Between weight concerns and the limited number of mounts I am riding, the reward is just not there anymore. The injuries I have sustained over the years have caught up with me”.

Along with his three victories in the Kentucky Derby aboard Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (’95) and Silver Charm (’97), Stevens’ stellar career included wins in more than 5,000 races. His victory total includes wins in five other Triple Crown races: two in the Preakness and three in the Belmont Stakes. He also won eight races in the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships and collected a record nine victories in the Santa Anita Derby. Stevens rode Silver Charm to victory in the $5 million Dubai World Cup in 1998 and took the Japan Cup in 1991 aboard Golden Pheasant. His many riding titles include crowns at Santa Anita, Oak Tree at Santa Anita, Del Mar, Hollywood Park and a title he earned in England while riding abroad.

Stevens, 42, will officially end his riding career with a pair of mounts at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Nov. 26. He will launch his new career as a race analyst with TVG in January.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the relationship,” said Stevens. “ I’m retiring from riding, but not from racing – and I look forward to working with the team at TVG. I have enjoyed a great relationship with (TVG executive producer) Tony Allevato and his team and look forward to giving viewers an insider’s look at what takes place on the race track.”