STEPHEN STABLES

MY STORY

Training Your Thoroughbred

My name is Anthony Stephen and I’ve been racing and training Thoroughbreds my whole life. I joined the Jockey School in Trinidad at the age of 17 and graduated in 1991. There, I learned true horsemanship including caring for the horses in every way. I learned how to be a healthy athlete myself, learning healthy eating and exercise habits. I also learned how to care for the animals - from grooming, feeding, cleaning stalls, cutting hay, and shoeing to breaking babies, galloping and breezing. I was lucky enough to make a connection with my trainer, Eric Colt Durant who believed in me enough to make me his stable jockey. I lived and worked with Durant every day. This opportunity gave me the ultimate experience in caring for my horses. I quickly became the leading rider in my country and was offered a contract in Macau. This opportunity was my ticket to explore the world and learn everything I could about thoroughbreds. With my trainers blessing, I took the contract and worked in Macau for 7 years and that experience was one I could write a book about.  I have traveled all over the world racing as a jockey (Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica, Macau, India, Canada, Qatar and the USA). Ultimately, I met my wife Dr. Karla Stephen, and moved to Kentucky in 2010. A few years later, we purchased a farm in Nicholasville and now I am living my dream as a Thoroughbred trainer. Being a trainer and a jockey gives me a unique perspective and I love nothing more than winning and seeing them succeed!