Steve Cauthen

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Steve Cauthen
File:Steve Cauthen 2014.jpg
Steve Cauthen at the 2014 Belmont Stakes
Occupation Jockey
Born (1960-05-01) May 1, 1960 (age 63)
Covington, Kentucky, U.S.
Career wins 2,794
Major racing wins
Affectionately Handicap (1977)
Busanda Stakes (1977)
Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap (1977)
United States Triple Crown (1978)
United Nations Handicap (1978)
2,000 Guineas (1979)
1,000 Guineas (1980)
Ascot Gold Cup (1984 & 1987)
Epsom Derby (1985 & 1987)
Middle Park Stakes (1983, 1987, 1989, 1992)
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1987)
Epsom Oaks (1985, 1988, 1989)
St. Leger Stakes (1985, 1987, 1989)
Grand Prix de Paris (1987 & 1990)
Prix du Jockey Club (1989)
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (1983-1986)
Grosser Preis von Baden (1983 & 1985)
Irish Derby (1989)
Irish Oaks (1988 & 1991)
Derby Italiano (1991)
Gran Premio del Jockey Club (1984)
Racing awards
United States Champion Jockey by earnings (1977)
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey (1977)
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey (1977)
Eclipse Award of Merit (1977)
George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (1984)
British Champion Jockey (1984, 1985, 1987)
Honours
Associated Press Athlete of the Year (1977)
Sports Illustrated - Sportsman of the Year (1977)
United States Racing Hall of Fame (1994)
Significant horses
Affirmed, Old Vic, Gold and Ivory, Triptych, Pebbles, Oh So Sharp, Slip Anchor, Reference Point, Saumarez, Never So Bold, Indian Skimmer

Steve Cauthen (born May 1, 1960) is an American jockey who is now retired.

Life and career

Cauthen, the son of a trainer and a farrier, grew up in Walton, Kentucky around horses, which (along with his small size) made race-riding a logical career choice. He rode his first race on May 12, 1976 at Churchill Downs; he finished last, riding King of Swat. He rode his first winner (Red Pipe) less than a week later, at River Downs.[1]

His rise to prominence was meteoric; he was the nation's leader in race wins in 1977 with 487. In only his second year of riding, he became the first jockey to win $6 million in a single season, passing that mark in December 1977 on a three-year-old filly called Little Happiness in the sixth race at Aqueduct Racetrack. After that, he was called "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "Stevie Wonder." [1]

In 1978 he became the youngest jockey to ever win the U. S. Triple Crown, riding Affirmed, and he was named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.[2] For 37 years he held the distinction of being the last jockey to sweep all legs of the Triple Crown until Victor Espinoza won the Triple Crown with American Pharoah in 2015.

He had increasing problems making the weight and moved to the UK, where jockey weights were higher.[3]

In his first race in the UK in April 1979 he rode Marquee Universal to victory at Salisbury.[4]

Cauthen was British Champion Jockey three times, and won English classic races ten times, including the 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby twice, and the St. Leger Stakes three times. In 1985 he captured the British Fillies' Triple Crown aboard Oh So Sharp. He also won the Irish Oaks twice and in 1989 rode European Horse of the Year, Old Vic to victory in the French Derby and the Irish Derby. In 1991 he won the Derby Italiano on Hailsham.[citation needed]

After he finished his riding career, he returned to Kentucky, where he became an executive at Turfway Park, the nearest major track to his hometown.[citation needed]

In 1984, Cauthen received the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, which honors a rider whose career and personal conduct exemplifies the very best example of participants in the sport of thoroughbred racing. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1994.[citation needed]

He is married to Amy and they have three daughters.[5]

Major winners

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France France


Germany Germany


Republic of Ireland Ireland


Italy Italy


United States United States

References

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