Senate passes resolution honoring Idaho jockey Gary Stevens
The Idaho Senate has unanimously passed SCR 101, a resolution honoring Gary Stevens, Idaho jockey, actor and sports analyst and Caldwell native. Stevens and his father, Ron, were in the Senate gallery for the resolution; senators welcomed him with a standing ovation. The resolution notes that Stevens, now 41, won his first race at Les Bois Park in Idaho at the age of 16 on Little Star, a horse trained by his father, and went on to be one of the most successful jockeys in history. He portrayed George Woolf in the 2003 Oscar-nominated movie “Seabiscuit;” was inducted into the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame in 1997 at the age of 34; and has won the Kentucky Derby three times and the Santa Anita Derby a record nine times, among many others.
Stevens retired from racing in 2005 to begin a career as a sports commentator, but returned to the sport in 2013, and won 69 races including the Breeders Cup and the Preakness Stakes. Numerous senators weighed in on the resolution honoring him. Sen. Abby Lee, R-Fruitland, said, “He has represented Idaho well. … He’s a great Idahoan.” Sen. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, lauded Stevens’ “dedication, commitment, integrity, perseverance and pure will,” calling him “a real testament to the never-ending endurance of the human spirit and a real testament for the real pride of Idaho.”
Lt. Gov. Brad Little said, “Having been a fan of the horse racing industry all my life, there are not very many states that are fortunate enough to have perhaps the premier athlete in their sport live in their state and continue to come back. … It’s a great honor.” You can read the resolution honoring Stevens here; Sen. Jim Rice, R-Caldwell, announced that he’ll also be honored at a reception this evening at 7 p.m. at the C.W. Moore Building, 250 S. 5th Street.
