How many times did Steve Cauthen become champion jockey in Britain?

Steve ‘The Kentucky Kid’ Cauthen made a successful British debut aboard Marquee Universal, trained by Barry Hills, on a typically rainy day at Salisbury on April 7, 1979. Four weeks later, Cauthen rode his first British Classic winner, Tap On Wood, a 20/1 outsider, also trained by Barry Hills, in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. In so doing, he inflicted one of just two defeats that the hitherto unbeaten Kris, trained by Henry Cecil, would experience during his sixteen-race career.

Cauthen became champion jockey for the first time, albeit with the modest total of 130 winners, in 1984, but it was during his subsequent spell as stable jockey to the aforementioned Henry Cecil, between 1985 and his retirement in 1992, that he reached the pinnacle of his career in Britain. Cauthen was champion jockey again in 1985 and during his first season at Warren Place won the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and St. Leger – a.k.a. the fillies’ ‘Triple Crown – on Oh So Sharp, as well as the Derby on Slip Anchor, both trained by Henry Cecil.

Having played second fiddle to Pat Eddery in the jockeys’ championship in 1986, Cauthen won the Derby, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and St. Leger on Reference Point, also trained by Cecil, in 1987, en route to his highest seasonal tally ever, with 197 winners. Nevertheless, Cauthen was involved in an epic duel with Pat Eddery for the jockeys’ title, which was also resolved 197-195 in his favour on the final day of the season.