Scott Stevens notches 5,000th career win

PHOENIX – Jockey Scott Stevens guided home Royal Privacy in Monday’s fourth race at Turf Paradise to notch career win No. 5,000. There was nothing for the 59-year-old rider to sweat out, either, as he sent Royal Privacy right to the lead in the five-furlong dirt race for $3,000 claimers and set a solid pace before drawing off to win by 6 1/4 lengths. The 7-year-old gelded son of Rocky Bar, owned by North American Thoroughbred Racing Co. and trained by Sandi Gann, was sent off the 1-2 favorite.

Stevens became the 35th rider to reach that milestone. Born in Caldwell, Idaho, Stevens, brother to Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens, rode his first winner at age 15 at Les Bois Park in Idaho on May 30, 1976. A long career has seen him win nine riding titles at Turf Paradise and be inducted in the Hall of Fame at Canterbury Downs. He’s ridden throughout the Western U.S. over the years including stints at Arapahoe Downs, Emerald Downs, and Arizona Downs. He was the recipient of Santa Anita’s George Woolf Award in 2019 and has overcome numerous injuries to reach this milestone, including a near-fatal spill at Canterbury Downs in 2010 when suffering numerous fractured ribs and two collapsed lungs. He even had a close call here recently when unseated last Saturday but escaped injury.

“My goals isn’t to better Gary,” he said, referring to his brother's 5,197 wins. “It’s to win my next race.”

Scott Stevens's mounts have earned more than $43 million. Next on the list is Alex Solis (5,035 wins).