- Home
- DRF Bets
- Handicapping & PPsHorsemen's ProductsReports
- The Wizard
- DRF Gameplan
- Quick Sheets
- DRF Picks
- Today's Racing Digest
- Key Race Report
- Positive ROI Report
- Moss Pace Figure Reports
- Debut Reports
- BreezeFigs
Access past performances- DRF EasyForm PPs
- DRF Classic PDF PPs
- DRF Formulator PPs
- DRF HarnessEye PPs
- DRF Daily Harness Program PPs
- Daily Racing Program PPs
Racing and Wagering InformationToolsHorse Racing Links- Race Tracks
- Casinos
- Account Wagering
- Breeding
- Racing and Charitable
- Contests/Games
- Regional/Free
- Radio Shows
Get the most out of
DRF's online PPs with
Learn more. - Entries
- Results
- NewsCategoriesTrack ReportsTriple Crown Special Events
Exclusive content available only with a DRF Plus Plan. See Plan Pricing. - Blogs
- Video
- Learn
- StorePast Performances
- Compare all DRF PPs
- DRF Formulator PPs
- DRF Classic PPs
- DRF EasyForm PPs
- Daily Racing Program PPs
- See all Pricing/Plans
REPORTS PICKS Harness PPs - Events
- Breeding
Email
Herbert K. “Herb” Stevens, a longtime Kentucky-based trainer who guided Rockhill Native to an Eclipse Award as the top 2-year-old of 1979, died Saturday morning of a heart attack in a Lexington, Ky., hospital. He was 96.
Stevens, who long was admired for his work with young horses and was known as a consummate “Kentucky hardboot,” retired from training in 1996 after more than a half-century in the sport. His all-time stable star was Harry A. Oak’s Rockhill Native, the little gelding who was fifth as the 2-1 favorite in the 1980 Kentucky Derby and ran third in the Belmont Stakes five weeks later.
Chris Crowe, his assistant for 14 years, said: “You had to know the man to understand him. As far as I’m concerned, he’s the greatest guy who’s ever been in this game.”
The esteemed late racing author Jim Bolus once wrote of Stevens: “I’ve always said that if I ever owned racehorses, I’d like for Herb Stevens to be my trainer. They don’t come any better than this knowledgeable Kentucky hardboot.”
Stevens’s survivors include his wife, Lady Louise; his daughter, Patty; and his son Mike.
Funeral services and burial were scheduled for Tuesday at the Blackburn and Ward Funeral Home in Versailles, Ky., with visitation set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern.
The family has asked that memorial contributions be made to Old Friends or the Jockeys’ Guild.
He was the leading trainer at River Downs for many, many years. Introduced myself at his Keeneland Box years ago and he invited me to stay and chat. I wish I had a tape recorded. A class act if ever there was one.
|
RIP Mr Stevens
|
One of the all time greats. My sympathy goes out to the family.
|
Great gentleman! Pleasure to have known him thru my association with Chris Crowe. Rest in Peace Mister Stevens.
|
 |
If some of the younger trainers today could have been around Mr.Stevens the game could be a lot better. Chris Crowe was right the best the game had to offer.
|
 |
The article failed to mention that Mr. Stevens was also noted to bring up several good apprentice jockey's in his time.
Nick Nicholson
|
Best Bets
LOVE TO RUN was rarin' to go first out in two months, so much so that he rocketed through a six-furlong split of 1:08.79 seconds - faster than Cross Traffic in the Westchester at the same one-mile distance a few days earlier; back-to-back Belmont wins last year included one rallying from next-to-last, so he may make good use of outside draw to track COLIZEO. The latter drops to same second-level condition where he won big first off R-Rod claim; reunited with Jose Ortiz, who was aboard for that score on wet track.
Most Popular
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
