Veteran reinsman Scott Stevens will retire from the saddle after an injury suffered at Turf Paradise on Feb. 24, 2021, his younger brother, Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, reported via Twitter on Wednesday.
Scott Stevens was dislodged shortly after the start of the afternoon’s third race at the Phoenix, Ariz. track, and suffered a broken C2 vertebrae along with other minor injuries. According to his younger brother, Stevens has feeling and no paralysis, but he will never ride competitively again.
“He is tougher than anyone I know,” wrote Gary Stevens on Twitter. “He is gonna move on and be fine. Great mentor and person.”
Like his younger brother, Scott Stevens began his Thoroughbred racing career at Les Bois Park in Idaho. His career achievements include induction into the Canterbury Downs Hall of Fame, the George Woolf Award in 2019 and nine riding titles at Turf Paradise.
The elder Stevens brother will retire with a record of 5,049 wins from over 33,000 starts, with a record dating back to 1976, according to Equibase.
Only 35 North American jockeys have reached the milestone of 5,000 wins. Stevens has ridden over 33,000 races for earnings of more than $43 million.
My brother Scott’s career ended last week. It was caused by a simple mistake that was not intentional. He had an unbelievable career and he is my hero. There is no room out on track for callous riding. Dangerous enough for horse and rider. Game of inches. Keep it in the room!
— Gary Stevens (@GStevens_jockey) March 3, 2021
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