Steve Cauthen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Steve Cauthen |
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Steve Cauthen at the 2014 Belmont Stakes
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| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | May 1, 1960 Walton, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Career wins | 2,794 |
| Major racing wins | |
| Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap (1977) Hollywood Derby (1978) United States Triple Crown (1978) 2,000 Guineas (1979) 1,000 Guineas (1985) Ascot Gold Cup (1984, 1987) Epsom Derby (1985, 1987) King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1987) Epsom Oaks (1985, 1988, 1989) St. Leger Stakes (1985, 1987, 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) |
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| 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) |
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| Honours | |
| Associated Press Athlete of the Year (1977) Sports Illustrated - Sportsman of the Year (1977) Golden Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement (1978) United States Racing Hall of Fame (1994) British Champions Series Hall of Fame (2023) |
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| Significant horses | |
| Affirmed, Old Vic, Arazi, Mashaallah, Keen Hunter, Possessive Dancer, Diminuendo, Chimes of Freedom, Gold and Ivory, Triptych, Pebbles, Oh So Sharp, Slip Anchor, Reference Point, Saumarez, Never So Bold, Indian Skimmer, Tap On Wood | |
| 1000 Guineas (1) | ||
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| 1985 | ||
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| Oh So Sharp | Al Bahathri | Bella Colora |
| 2000 Guineas (1) | ||
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| 1979 | ||
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| Tap On Wood | Kris | Young Generation |
| Derby (2) | ||
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| 1985 | ||
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| Slip Anchor | Law Society | Damister |
| 1987 | ||
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| Reference Point | Most Welcome | Bellotto |
| Oaks (3) | ||
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| 1985 | ||
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| Oh So Sharp | Triptych | Dubian |
| 1988 | ||
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| Diminuendo | Sudden Love | Animatrice |
| 1989 | ||
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| Snow Bride | Aliysa | Roseate Tern |
| St Leger (3) | ||
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| 1985 | ||
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| Oh So Sharp | Phardante | Lanfranco |
| 1987 | ||
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| Reference Point | Mountain Kingdom | Dry Dock |
| 1989 | ||
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| Michelozzo | Sapience | Roseate Tern |
Steve Cauthen, born on May 1, 1960, is a famous retired American jockey. He was an amazing rider who achieved many firsts in horse racing.
In 1977, he became the first jockey to win over $6 million in a single year. The next year, in 1978, he became the youngest jockey ever to win the U.S. Triple Crown. This incredible achievement led to him being named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.
After riding in the United States for a few years, Steve Cauthen moved to Europe. He is the only jockey in history to have won both the Kentucky Derby in the U.S. and the Epsom Derby in England.
Contents
Early Life and Horse Racing Beginnings
Steve Cauthen grew up in Walton, Kentucky. His dad was a horse trainer and his mom was a farrier, someone who cares for horses' hooves. Being around horses from a young age, along with his small size, made becoming a jockey a natural choice for him.
Steve Cauthen's Racing Career
Success in North America
Steve Cauthen rode his first race on May 12, 1976, at Churchill Downs. He was only 16 years old. Even though he finished last in that first race, he won his very first race less than a week later at River Downs.
In 1977, which was only his second year of riding, he became the top jockey in the country for race wins, with 487 victories. He also made history by becoming the first jockey to earn over $6 million in one season.
The year 1978 was huge for Cauthen. He became the youngest jockey to win the U.S. Triple Crown with the horse Affirmed. This amazing feat earned him the title of Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.
As he got older, it became harder for him to keep his weight low enough for racing in the U.S. Because jockeys in the UK could be a bit heavier, he decided to move to Europe.
Triumphs in Europe
Steve Cauthen moved to the UK in 1979. In his very first race there, he won on a horse named Marquee Universal at Salisbury.
He became the British Champion Jockey three times. He also won ten major English races known as "Classics." These included the 2,000 Guineas, the Derby twice, and the St Leger three times. In 1985, he won three Classics with the incredible horse Oh So Sharp.
In 1989, he rode Old Vic to victory in the French Derby and the Irish Derby. Old Vic was even named European Horse of the Year! In 1991, Cauthen added the Italian Derby to his list of wins with a horse named Hailsham.
Life After Racing
After a very successful career, Steve Cauthen retired from riding. He moved back to Kentucky and bought a stud farm, which is a place where horses are bred.
In 1999, a famous racing newspaper called the Racing Post ranked Steve Cauthen as the eighth best jockey of the 20th century.
Steve Cauthen and his wife, Amy, live in Walton, Kentucky, and have three daughters.
Major Race Wins
Here are some of the most important races Steve Cauthen won:
- 1,000 Guineas - Oh So Sharp (1985)
- 2,000 Guineas - Tap on Wood (1979)
- Derby - Slip Anchor (1985), Reference Point (1987)
- King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes - Reference Point (1987)
- Oaks - Oh So Sharp (1985), Diminuendo (1988), Snow Bride (1989)
- St. Leger - Oh So Sharp (1985), Reference Point (1987), Michelozzo (1989)
- Goodwood Cup - Heighlin (1982), Gildoran (1984)
- Yorkshire Oaks - Diminuendo (1988)
- International Stakes - Cormorant Wood (1984), Triptych (1987), In the Groove (1990)
- Nunthorpe Stakes - Sharpo (1982), Never So Bold (1985)
- July Cup - Never So Bold (1985)
- Falmouth Stakes - Meis El-Reem (1984), Chimes of Freedom (1990)
- Cheveley Park Stakes - Desirable (1983)
- Middle Park Stakes - Creag-An-Sgor (1983), Gallic League (1987), Balla Cove (1989), Zieten (1992)
- Sun Chariot Stakes - Cormorant Wood (1983)
- Lockinge Stakes - Motavato (1982), Cormorant Wood (1984)
- Doncaster Cup - Spicy Story (1985)
- Coronation Cup - Time Charter (1984), Triptych (1988), In the Groove (1991)
- Coronation Stakes - Chimes of Freedom (1990)
- King's Stand Stakes - Indian Ridge (1989), Elbio (1991)
- St James's Palace Stakes - Horage (1983), Shavian (1990)
- Ascot Gold Cup - Gildoran (1984), Paean (1987)
- Eclipse Stakes - Pebbles (1985)
- Futurity Trophy - Be My Chief (1989), Peter Davies (1990)
- Nassau Stakes - Nom de Plume (1987)
- Prince of Wales's Stakes - Kind of Hush (1982), Stagecraft (1991)
- British Champions Sprint Stakes - Never So Bold (1984), Wolfhound (1992)
- Champion Stakes - Cormorant Wood (1983), In the Groove (1990)
- Princess Royal Stakes - Snow Bride (1989)
- Grand Prix de Paris - Risk Me (1987), Saumarez (1990)
- Prix du Jockey Club - Old Vic (1989)
- Prix de Saint-Georges - Elbio (1992)
- Prix de Diane - Indian Skimmer (1987)
- Prix Royal-Oak - El Cuite (1986)
- Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp - Committed (1984), Keen Hunter (1991)
- Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud - Diamond Shoal (1983), Acatenango (1986)
- Prix Jean Prat - Lapierre (1988), Kitwood (1992)
- Prix Maurice de Gheest - Never So Bold (1984)
- Prix Jacques Le Marois - Lirung (1986)
- Prix d'Ispahan - Indian Skimmer (1989)
- Prix Saint-Alary - Indian Skimmer (1987), Rosefinch (1992)
- Irish 1,000 Guineas - In the Groove (1990)
- Irish Derby - Old Vic (1989)
- Irish Oaks - Diminuendo (dead heat 1988), Possessive Dancer (1991)
- Irish St. Leger - Mashaallah (1992)
- Moyglare Stud Stakes - Chimes of Freedom (1989)
- Tattersalls Gold Cup - Opera House (1992)
- Gran Premio di Milano - Diamond Shoal (1983), Mashaallah (1992)
- Derby Italiano - Hailsham (1991)
- Gran Criterium - Tanque Verde (1985)
- Gran Premio del Jockey Club - Gold and Ivory (1984)
- Premio Roma - Orban (1987)
- Bayerisches Zuchtrennen - Imperial Fling (1979)
- Grosser Preis von Baden - Diamond Shoal (1983), Gold and Ivory (1984)
- Preis von Europa - Gold and Ivory (1984)
- Grosser Preis von Bayern - Almaarad (1988)
- Kentucky Derby - Affirmed (1978)
- Preakness Stakes - Affirmed (1978)
- Belmont Stakes - Affirmed (1978)
- Hollywood Derby - Affirmed (1978)
- Santa Anita Derby - Affirmed (1978)
- United Nations Stakes - Noble Dancer (1978)
- Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes - Johnny D. (1977)
- Malibu Stakes - J. O. Tobin (1978)
- Belmont Futurity Stakes - Affirmed (1977)
- Laurel Futurity Stakes - Affirmed (1977)
- Hopeful Stakes - Affirmed (1977)
