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In 1976 a young man made headlines in
the racing world by winning 240 races. A record for
someone with a title called "apprentice jockey". In
the next year he had 487 winning rides. Along with that
feat he generated six million in purse earnings which
set new records. It also landed him on the cover of
Sports Illustrated. The following year he was old enough
to vote. You have just met Steve Cauthen the "Six Million
Dollar Kid".
He was born May 1, 1960 in Covington,
Kentucky (KY). They take horse racing seriously in the
Bluegrass State. Almost everyone was somehow in the
business, and Steve was born to it. His parents worked
as trainers and his father was a farrier, which meant
being a blacksmith, and veterinarian if needed. Growing
up around horses, and being with a slight build, jockeying
was a logical choice for young Master Steve. In the
jockey world he became the horse of a different color.
I should also mention that by the age
of seventeen he had won three "Eclipse Awards,"
a highly prestigious award given out in part by the
National Thoroughbred Racing Association. Also involved
in the selection are members of the Daily Racing Form
and National Turf Writers Association. It is an award
given to champions of the sport. That being both the
horse, and the human side of the race.
At eighteen years of age many are trying
to figure out a direction in life. Steve had the direction,
but how, while in his teens, do you top what you have
already done? With all the attention he has drawn there
was no way, even if he wanted to, could he just ride
away from his calling. So he pulled what seemed like
another miracle out of his racing pockets. In 1978 he
won horse racings Triple Crown, and became the youngest
jockey ever to do so.
Other things were happening to Steve at
the time. His body started talking to him, and keeping
weight down was not as easy as it once was. He had promised
his parents years ago not to go to the extremes that
other jockeys sometimes do to shed weight. Starvation
was not on his mind, but moving was. In 1979 he moved
to Europe. It was a simple decision. He had a gift,
and in Europe jockeys normally compete at higher weights.
The move, as time has shown, was a good one.
In 1984, 1985 and 1987 he was considered
by experts in the field as England's leading rider.
In 1985 and 1987 he won England's Epsom Derby. He was
busy in 1989 and won both the French and Irish Derby.
In 1991, his final year of being a jockey, he won the
Italian Derby. Along with these races, and the Kentucky
Derby, no rider has won as many major events. None of
which was making his 31 year old bone rattled body feel
any better. It was time to quit, move back to the United
States, and move forward while not on the back of a
horse.
He settled in his home state of Kentucky
and took on an executive position with the Turfway Park.
The closest track to his home. He left England with
more then just accolades, purse winnings, and memories.
He also left with love.
Call it fate. Amy was
a Kentucky girl from Bellevue, KY. While in England
as a college exchange student she met fellow Kentuckian
Steve Cauthen. It was love at first sight. Today he
and Amy live with three daughters on a 360 acre breeding
farm in Verona, KY. Not far from both their parents.
These days he keeps gainfully busy doing
television commentary, memorabilia sales, motivational
speeches, horse breeding, and promoting the sport he
loves best. The sport that on August 8, 1994 made him
the youngest person ever to be inducted into the Horse
Racing Hall of Fame in Sarasota Springs, NY.
All of which seemed destined at birth,
and then made sure, when in 1978 he won the Triple Crown
on a thoroughbred colt named "Affirmed'.
Signed autographs are available through
"Autographed
To You".
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