Bailey, Espinoza, and Stevens Among ESPY Nominees

Jerry Bailey, Victor Espinoza, or Gary Stevens will leave tonight's ESPY awards with a statue in hand. The annual ESPN event offers these three men in their "Outstanding Jockey of the Year" category. Live coverage of the ESPYs, which will be hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, begins at 9 p.m. (ET).

Bailey won the award in 1996 and 1997. He is currently second among his peers in money earned this year. Espinoza guided War Emblem to wins in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I). In 2001 STevens piloted Point Given to Preakness and Belmont Stakes (gr. I) victories.

Last year Kent Desormeaux earned the Outstanding Jockey of the Year honor. One jockey has won in another category--in 1994, former jockey Julie Krone was recognized as the Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year.

2002 is the 10th anniversary of the ESPY awards. This year the awards take place in Hollywood at the Kodak Theatre.