Inside the Jockeys’ Room with Gary Stevens

Stevens enjoys some time with his daughter Maddie. (Photo courtesy of the Stevens family)
Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens and Chantal Sutherland-Kruse, a two-time Sovereign Award winner in her native Canada, take America's Best Racing's readers inside the jockeys' room in 2014. Stevens and Sutherland-Kruse will provide answers to all sorts of questions such as how jockeys get paid, what goes on between races, whom they admire and what type of music and fashion style they favor.
In this edition of Inside the Jockeys' Room we learn a little more about Stevens, whose comeback in 2013 was arguably the biggest story in horse racing and featured wins in the Preakness Stakes with Oxbow and Breeders' Cup Classic with Mucho Macho Man. Stevens currently is recovering from knee surgery but plans to make a return to race riding once he's back at full strength. Read on to find out what influences Stevens and makes him laugh as well as his dream Thoroughbred mating.

Who or what influences you? Can you give a specific example of how you have positively used that influence as inspiration?   
STEVENS: Honesty influences me. I wouldn't really say a person or thing influences me, but being honest influences me.
What word makes you laugh?          
STEVENS: Oops.        
If I could own any painting in the world it would be?          
STEVENS: “End of the Trail”. It is an Indian Brave on the back of a horse. The horse is at the end of a trail looking over a cliff. 
Who is your celebrity crush?
STEVENS: Sally Field is the only one I really ever had.
What would you be doing if you weren’t a jockey?  
STEVENS: Working as a broadcaster for NBC.      
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?           
STEVENS: Football player. I didn’t grow big enough.
STEVENS AFTER WINNING BREEDERS' CUP DISTAFF ABOARD BEHOLDER

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
What’s the best horse racing event in America for a new fan to attend?    
STEVENS: Breeders’ Cup.    
What reality show are you best suited for and why?          
STEVENS: Judge on “The Voice,” because I love music.    
If I came to your home and looked inside the refrigerator, what would I find?     
STEVENS: Beer, protein, lots of cleanse juices, fruits, veggies.    
How many pairs of shoes you own? 
STEVENS: 60???       
If you could breed any two horses and be guaranteed to ride the progeny, which two horses would you play matchmaker for and why?        
STEVENS: Wow. Good question. Storm Bird and Azeri. That horse would not lose!
AZERI

Photo courtesy of Northern Farm