The Turf Publicists of America announced Nov. 15 that its membership has elected jockey Gary Stevens, winner of the 2013 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), as the recipient of this year's Big Sport of Turfdom Award.
The honor is bestowed each year upon a person or group of people who enhance coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media and Thoroughbred racing publicists, according to a TPA release.
"This year has been crazy and keeps getting better," Stevens said in a statement. "I'm honored. Some of my idols and closest friends have received this award. It's humbling."
Stevens, 50, returned to the saddle in January after seven years of retirement. He immediately re-established himself as one of racing's elite riders when he won a graded stakes within one month of his comeback. More success in racing's premier events followed, as Stevens notched 17 graded stakes this year (through Nov. 14), including eight grade I events.
He won his third Preakness with Oxbow , his third Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) aboard Beholder, and his first Breeders' Cup Classic aboard Mucho Macho Man .
"Gary has long been a favorite of racing media and publicists but perhaps never more so than this year, as his remarkable comeback amazed every one of us," TPA president Mandy Minger said. "Through it all he made himself consistently available with interviews that were both thoughtful and candid."
During retirement Stevens served as a racing analyst for NBC Sports and HRTV. In an already storied career before injuries sidelined him in 2005, Stevens had won more than 5,000 races, including eight Triple Crown events and eight Breeders' Cup races.
The Big Sport of Turfdom Award will be presented at the Race Track Industry Program awards luncheon Dec. 10 to be hosted by Chris Lincoln. It is part of the 2013 Symposium on Racing & Gaming presented by the University of Arizona at the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson, Ariz.
The TPA consists of approximately 150 publicity and marketing specialists from racetracks and racing organizations around the country. The Big Sport of Turfdom award has been presented every year since 1966.
Previous winners of the Big Sport of Turfdom Award include jockeys Mike Smith, Pat Day, Laffit Pincay Jr., Chris McCarron, Bill Shoemaker, Angel Cordero Jr. and Eddie Arcaro; trainers Bob Baffert, D. Wayne Lukas, Jack Van Berg, and last year's winner, Dale Romans; as well as individuals who may not be involved in the day-to-day aspect of Thoroughbred racing but made significant contributions to the sport including author Laura Hillenbrand, broadcaster Jim McKay, and actors Tim Conway and Jack Klugman.