Gary Stevens, a former Corridor of Fame jockey turned jockey agent, mentioned he has bought a house close to Oak Garden that was beforehand owned by the late Corridor of Fame coach D. Wayne Lucas and his spouse, Laurie.
“Laurie wished me to have it,” Ms. Stevens mentioned. “She mentioned she had different affords and mentioned, ‘It is advisable be in that home.’ She made it occur.”
Mr Stevens mentioned the home was greater than 80 years outdated, including: “It’s extremely homey, very heat.” Lucas has made Oak Garden his winter dwelling since 2007 and ultimately bought a house in Scorching Springs. He handed away on June twenty eighth on the age of 89.
Lucas, a detailed good friend, made Stevens the primary jockey to journey Tank’s Prospect, who received at Oak Garden, within the 1985 Arkansas Derby Grade 1.
“We acquired on his jet and landed right here in Scorching Springs, and he dropped us off proper in entrance of the grandstand at Central at 7:30 or 8 within the morning,” mentioned Stevens, then a rising star in Southern California. “I assumed, ‘Holy cow!’” The truck faces Most important Avenue. I had by no means seen something prefer it. We acquired out of this Lincoln City Automobile and opened the trunk. Wayne handed me a tuck bag and mentioned, “Do you want touring like this?” I mentioned, “I like you.” He mentioned, “If you happen to win as we speak, get used to it.” ”
Lucas and Stevens teamed for a lot of different main wins, together with the 1988 Kentucky Derby (Profitable Colours), 1995 Kentucky Derby (Thunder Gulch), 1995 Belmont Stakes (Thunder Gulch), and 2013 Preakness (Oxbow).
As his agent, Stevens was stationed early within the morning on the Royal Glint Barn, the place Lucas lived for a few years in Oak Garden. Lucas was Oaklawn’s main coach in 1987 and 2011 and is the eighth winningest coach of all time with 384 wins.
“There’ll by no means be a participant like him once more,” Stevens mentioned. “He modified issues. He was the primary one to begin flying horses. Everybody thought it was bizarre that he was doing satellite tv for pc coaching with a number of horses at a number of racetracks. He wasn’t afraid to fly out and in. Now everybody does that.”
Stevens mentioned he shall be filling in for newcomers Eswan Flores, Travis Wales and apprentice Amanda Poston throughout Oaklawn’s 64-day cut up season, which begins Dec. 12.
