Career start 1976 Career wins 2,794 Career end 1992 | Name Steve Cauthen Spouse Amy Cauthen (m. 1992) Role Jockey | |
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Similar People Pat Eddery, Willie Carson, Lester Piggott, Henry Cecil, Laz Barrera | ||
Jockey steve cauthen interview
Steve Cauthen (born May 1, 1960) is an American jockey who is now retired. In 1977 he became the first jockey to earn over $6 million in a year. The following year, he became the youngest jockey to win the U. S. Triple Crown. Cauthen was the only jockey ever named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. After riding for a few years in the United States, he began racing in Europe. He is the only jockey to have won both the Kentucky Derby and the Epsom Derby.
Contents
- Jockey steve cauthen interview
- Old vic and steve cauthen prix du jockey club
- Background
- North America
- Europe
- Retirement
- Major winners
- References
Old vic and steve cauthen prix du jockey club
Background
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.
North America
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.
His rise to prominence was rapid; 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."
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. 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.
Europe
In his first race in the UK in April 1979 he rode Marquee Universal to victory at Salisbury.
Cauthen was British Champion Jockey three times, and won English classic races ten times, including the 2,000 Guineas, the Derby twice, and the St Leger three times. In 1985 he won three Classics riding Oh So Sharp. In 1989 he rode European Horse of the Year Old Vic to victory in the French Derby and the Irish Derby. In 1991 he won the Italian Derby on Hailsham.
Retirement
After he finished his riding career, he returned to Kentucky and bought a stud farm.
In 1984, Cauthen received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1994. In 1999, the Racing Post ranked Cauthen as eighth in their list of the Top 50 jockeys of the 20th century.
He is married to Amy and they have three daughters.
Major winners
Great Britain
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
United States