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, 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 a famous retired American jockey. A jockey is a person who rides horses in races.
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 is a very special series of three races. Cauthen is also the only jockey to be named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.
After racing in the United States for a few years, he moved to Europe. He is the only jockey who has won both the Kentucky Derby in the U.S. and the Epsom Derby in England.
Contents
Early Life and Horse Racing
Steve Cauthen grew up in Walton, Kentucky. His father was a horse trainer, and his mother was a farrier (someone who shoes horses). Being around horses from a young age, along with his small size, made horse racing a natural fit for him.
Steve Cauthen's Racing Career
Racing in North America
Steve Cauthen rode his first race on May 12, 1976, at Churchill Downs. He was just 16 years old. He finished last in that race, but he won his first race less than a week later at River Downs.
In 1977, which was only his second year of racing, he led the country with 487 race wins. He also became the first jockey to earn over $6 million in one season.
In 1978, he made history by becoming the youngest jockey to win the U.S. Triple Crown. He achieved this amazing feat riding a horse named Affirmed. That same year, Sports Illustrated magazine named him their Sportsman of the Year.
After a while, Steve Cauthen started to have trouble keeping his weight low enough for races in the U.S. Because jockeys in the UK could be a bit heavier, he decided to move there.
Racing in Europe
In April 1979, Steve Cauthen rode his first race in the UK at Salisbury and won! He was very successful in Europe.
He became the British Champion Jockey three times. He also won ten major English classic races. These included the 2,000 Guineas, the Derby twice, and the St Leger three times. In 1985, he won three of these important races riding a horse named Oh So Sharp.
In 1989, he rode Old Vic, who was named European Horse of the Year. They won the French Derby and the Irish Derby together. In 1991, he also won the Italian Derby with a horse named Hailsham.
Life After Racing
After he stopped riding horses professionally, Steve Cauthen moved back to Kentucky. He bought a stud farm, which is a place where horses are bred.
In 1999, the Racing Post newspaper ranked Steve Cauthen as the eighth best jockey of the 20th century.
Steve Cauthen and his wife, Amy, live in Walton, Kentucky, and they have three daughters.
Major Race Wins
Here are some of the biggest 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)
- Derby Italiano - Hailsham (1991)
- Gran Criterium - Tanque Verde (1985)
- Bayerisches Zuchtrennen - Imperial Fling (1979)
- Grosser Preis von Baden - Diamond Shoal (1983), Gold and Ivory (1985)
- 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)
