Monday we wrote about the racing rivals, today The rider.

Over four decades (can that be right?) removed from his sensational jockey career, Steve Cauthen lives the life of a typical Thoroughbred insider in his hometown of Verona in Northern Kentucky.

Best known for capturing the 1978 Triple Crown aboard AFFIRMED, Cauthen had established himself as a potential superstar in his first full year as a jockey in 1977. 

He was honored for that season with three Eclipse Awards—outstanding apprentice and journeyman and Eclipse Award of Merit.

Other accomplishments in his 15-year career include Racing Hall of Fame induction, being featured on covers of Time magazine, as well as Sports Illustrated– which proclaimed him 1977 Sportsman of the Year.

He became a champion jockey in Europe, where he spent the second part of his career so he could participate at a higher weight. 

In 1984 he was voted the George Woolf Memorial Award Winner by his fellow riders. 

His rise to celebrity status is eloquently chronicled in a 1978 book The Kid written by Pete Axthelm.

After retiring from the saddle in 1992, Cauthen returned to Verona to operate his Dreamfields Thoroughbred breeding facility and hold a position as a vice president of Turfway Park that he left around 2007. 

Cauthen seamlessly blends his days at the races, auctions, and mornings at the track.

“I go to watch my horses train as often as I can,” he said.  “More than watching them train, I like to go to the barn to see how they look and how they act.”

Cauthen starts his days well before dawn.  After feeding the dogs and catching up on some news, Cauthen walks to the barn by 7:00 a.m. 

With eight to 12 horses on site at any given time, Cauthen has one employee for all-around chores.

Cauthen enjoys grooming the horses and trims their hooves as needed, a skill learned from his late father Tex, a member of the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame.

Cauthen commutes to Lexington several times a week for various activities such as purchasing horse-related supplies, meeting with the Dixiana Farm team and visiting his Keeneland-based runners.

After dabbling in ownership through the years, Cauthen said he is having fun with his active racehorse string.

“I feel totally blessed that I got into horses,” he said.  “When I started as a jockey, I was hoping I would be good enough to be leading rider at River Downs (now Belterra Park.) In just two months I was.”

“Being a jockey took me around the world and allowed me to meet amazing people.  I am still involved and I still love it.  Racing has given me a great life and it brought me back home.”

No kidding.