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.

Racing career

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 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."

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 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.

Retirement

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.

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.

He is married to Amy and they have three daughters.

Major winners

Great Britain

• 1,000 Guineas - Oh So Sharp (1985)
• 2,000 Guineas - Tap on Wood (1979)
• Ascot Gold Cup - Gildoran (1984), Paean (1987)
• Champion Stakes - Cormorant Wood (1983), In the Groove (1990)
• Cheveley Park Stakes - Desirable (1983)
• Coronation Cup - Time Charter (1984), Triptych (1988), In the Groove (1991)
• Coronation Stakes - Chimes of Freedom (1990)
• Derby - Slip Anchor (1985), Reference Point (1987)
• Eclipse Stakes - Pebbles (1985)
• Falmouth Stakes - Meis El-Reem (1984), Chimes of Freedom (1990)
• Fillies' Mile - Invited Guest (1986), Diminuendo (1987)
• International Stakes - Cormorant Wood (1984), Triptych (1987), In the Groove (1990)
• July Cup - Never So Bold (1985)
• King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes - Reference Point (1987)
• King's Stand Stakes - Indian Ridge (1989), Elbio (1991)
• Lockinge Stakes - Motavato (1982), Cormorant Wood (dead heat 1984)
• Middle Park Stakes - Creag-An-Sgor (1983), Gallic League (1987), Balla Cove (1989), Zieten (1992)
• Nassau Stakes - Nom de Plume (1987)
• Nunthorpe Stakes - Sharpo (1982), Never So Bold (1985)
• Oaks - Oh So Sharp (1985), Diminuendo (1988), Snow Bride (1989)
• Prince of Wales's Stakes - Kind of Hush (1982), Stagecraft (1991)
• Racing Post Trophy - Be My Chief (1989), Peter Davies (1990)
• St. James's Palace Stakes - Horage (1983), Shavian (1990)
• St. Leger - Oh So Sharp (1985), Reference Point (1987), Michelozzo (1989)
• Sun Chariot Stakes - Cormorant Wood (1983)
• Yorkshire Oaks - Diminuendo (1988)

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France

• Grand Prix de Paris - Risk Me (1987), Saumarez (1990)
• Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud - Diamond Shoal (1983), Acatenango (1986)
• Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp - Committed (1984), Keen Hunter (1991)
• Prix de Diane - Indian Skimmer (1987)
• Prix d'Ispahan - Indian Skimmer (1989)
• Prix Jacques Le Marois - Lirung (1986)
• Prix Jean Prat - Lapierre (1988), Kitwood (1992)
• Prix du Jockey Club - Old Vic (1989)
• Prix Maurice de Gheest - Never So Bold (1984)
• Prix Royal-Oak - El Cuite (1986)
• Prix Saint-Alary - Indian Skimmer (1987), Rosefinch (1992)

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Germany

• Aral-Pokal - Almaarad (1988)
• Bayerisches Zuchtrennen - Imperial Fling (1979)
• Grosser Preis von Baden - Diamond Shoal (1983), Gold and Ivory (1985)
• Preis von Europa - Gold and Ivory (1984)

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Ireland

• 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)

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Italy

• Derby Italiano - Hailsham (1991)
• Gran Criterium - Tanque Verde (1985)
• Gran Premio di Milano - Diamond Shoal (1983), Mashaallah (1992)
• Gran Premio d'Italia - El Cuite (1986)
• Gran Premio del Jockey Club - Gold and Ivory (1984)
• Premio Roma - Orban (1987)

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United States

• Kentucky Derby - Affirmed (1978)
• Preakness Stakes - Affirmed (1978)
• Belmont Stakes - Affirmed (1978)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]