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He came to racing naturally, his father, Ron, is a trainer and had him grooming horses at age 8. His brother Scott is a jockey. Before he was 14, Gary was riding winners in quarter horse races at the bush tracks and fairs
He rode his first thoroughbred winner - in his first start - at 16 in 1979 at Les Bois Park in Idaho. Soon he became the top jockey in Washington, winning riding title at Longacres in 1983-84. He moved his tack to Southern California where after a rocky and homesick start, his career skyrocketed. He won riding titles at Santa Anita four times (1986, 88, 90, 93), Hollywood summer twice (1986, 88): Del Mar twice (1987-88), Oak Tree three times (1986-87, 97), and Hollywood fall four times (1986, 88, 92, 94)
He may have made his name out west but is a familiar face on the Triple Crown circuit. His victories in the Kentucky Derby began in 1988 aboard Winning Colors (PHOTO RIGHT) which he credits as his most exciting win, This was followed with victories by Thunder Gulch in 1995, and Silver Charm in 1997.
In 1995, Gary won the first and last legs of the series with Thunder Gulch, trained by D. Wayne Lukas. Thunder Gulch finished third in the Preakness.
In 1998 Real Quiet won the Derby and the Preakness and looked to have the Crown wrapped up when Kent Desormeaux had him in front by five lengths in the stretch of the Belmont Stakes. And then along came Gary. In one of the greatest rides in history, Stevens and Victory Gallop caught Real Quiet by a nose to win the mile-and-a-half Test of the Champion.
Gary retired in December of 1999 with debilitating knee pain , but not before he had ridden a colt named Anees to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile the month before. Knee problems have plagued him. He underwent surgery Dec. 1, 1999 to have a cyst removed from his right knee; returned Dec. 26 of that year but announced his retirement that day, citing chronic pain and wear-and-tear on his knees. Prior to that knee surgery were operations in 1995, 1997 and 1998. Following retirement, he became an assistant trainer for trainer Alex Hassinger and the Thoroughbred Corp. but not riding was dificult for him. He resumed riding Oct. 4, 2000.
He was back in the Triple Crown limelight just a few months later with Derby favorite Point Given, son of Thunder Gulch. After suicidal early fractions, on a phony-fast racetrack, the Bob Baffert-trainee finished fifth to Monarchos. But it was Point Given, Baffert, Thoroughbred Corp. and Stevens who reigned supreme at Pimlico and Belmont Park, winning the Preakness, the Belmont. Gary feels that Point Given deserved the Tri[ple Crown that year and that Kentucky Derby is perhaps the loss he regrets the most.
Quick facts:
Has won eight Breeders' Cup races from 86 mounts: the 2000 Mile with War Chant, 1999 Juvenile with Anees and the 1998 Distaff on Escena and Juvenile Fillies on Silverbulletday, 1996 Mile on Da Hoss, 1994 Distaff on One Dreamer, 1993 Juvenile on Brocco and 1990 Turf on In the Wings (GB).
Inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1997.
Received Eclipse Award as North America's outstanding jockey in 1998.
Top victories in his surgery-interrupted 2002 season have included: Del Mar Debutante Stakes (Miss Houdini), Santa Maria Handicap (Favorite Funtime), Massachusetts Handicap (Macho Uno), Peter Pan Stakes (Sunday Break [JPN]), La Canada Stakes (Summer Colony), San Marcos Stakes (Irish Prize) and Santa Ynez Stakes (Dancing [GB]).
Has won eight Triple Crown races: three Kentucky Derbies — Winning Colors (1988), Thunder Gulch (1995), Silver Charm (1997); two Preakness Stakes — Silver Charm (1997), Point Given (1998); three Belmont Stakes — Thunder Gulch (1994), Victory Gallop (1998), Point Given (2001).
Other $1 million or greater race victories exclusive of Breeders' Cup and Triple Crown victories include the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (Caller One, 2002), the Godolphin Mile (Grey Memo, 2002), Arlington Million (Golden Pheasant, 1990, and Marlin, 1997); Canadian International (Singspiel, 1996, and Royal Anthem, 1998); Dubai World Cup (Silver Charm, 1998), Haskell Invitational Handicap (Point Given, 2001); Hollywood Gold Cup (Gentlemen, 1997), Santa Anita Handicap (Ruhlmann, 1990; Farma Way, 1991; Urgent Request, 1995).
Earned national money titles in 1990 and 1998 ... Ranked among top 10 money winners from 1985-99 and in 2001.
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