The history of sports in Northern Kentucky goes back a long way. A very long way. Decades. Centuries.
We know you’ve seen these lists before, but this is a different and unique way of presenting our “50 sports icons in Northern Kentucky” as we’ll provide you one per day over the next 50 days.
Hall of Fames are everywhere in NKY, the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame, High School Athletic Directors Hall of Fame, NKU, Thomas More and local high schools all have something to recognize their past.
We’ll preface this series by saying this, some of you may disagree with who should or shouldn’t be in the top 50 and that’s fine. Plenty are in the Hall of Very Good, but we feel these 50 are the ones who stuck out to us.
Sports Editor Evan Dennison spoke and conferred with several local NKY sports history buffs to get their opinions and lists of their own and who should be “locks” for the 50 sports icons. We compiled each list and came up with the 50 of our own (maybe cheated a little by putting families in as one) to present over the next 50 days.
Hope you enjoy as summer time rolls on!
The 10th of the 50 sports icons turns to horse racing and Covington jockey Steve Cauthen.
STEVE CAUTHEN
Steve Cauthen’s rise was meteoric. Born in Covington, Kentucky, the son of a farrier and trainer, Cauthen rode his first race just after turning 16 in 1976. A week later, he had his first win. By 1977, “The Six Million Dollar Man” had captured national attention with a staggering 487 victories and over $6 million in earnings, both records, earning him Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year and two Eclipse Awards.
In 1978, he etched his name into racing history, guiding Affirmed to a thrilling Triple Crown sweep over rival Alydar, becoming the youngest jockey ever to do so. Just a year later, he moved to England, where higher weight limits suited his growing frame. There, he found even greater success, winning 10 English Classics, including two Epsom Derbies and three St. Legers, and becoming Britain’s champion jockey three times.
Known for his flawless pace judgment, calm demeanor, and unique crouched style, Cauthen became the only jockey to win the Kentucky Derby and Epsom Derby. He won top races across France, Ireland, and Italy, amassing 2,794 worldwide victories before retiring in 1993 at just 32.
Returning home, Cauthen established Dreamfields Farm near Verona, close to where he grew up. Inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1994, Cauthen’s career remains one of global acclaim, defined by poise, precocity, and a rare ability to deliver on the biggest stages.
See the 50 sports icons on a day-to-day basis over the next 50 days
— Day 1: Dave Cowens
— Day 2: Shaun Alexander
— Day 3: Homer Rice
— Day 4: Dicky Beal
— Day 5: Jared Lorenzen
— Day 6: Jim Bunning
— Day 7: Tom Ellis
— Day 8: Nate Dusing
— Day 9: Jim Connor
— Day 10: Steve Cauthen
— Day 11: Irv Goode
— Day 12: Stan Steidel
— Day 13: Kenney Shields
— Day 14: David Justice
— Day 15: Morgan Hentz
— Day 16: Eddie Arcaro
— Day 17: Nancy Winstel
— Day 18: Steve Flesch
— Day 19: Donna Murphy
— Day 20: Randy Marsh
— Day 21: Mike Yeagle
— Day 22: Derrick Barnes
— Day 23: Dale Mueller
— Day 24: Dave Faust
— Day 25: Kirsten Allen
— Day 26: The Oldendick family
— Day 27: Martin “Mote” Hils
— Day 28: Nell Fookes
— Day 29: Owen Hauck
— Day 30: Becky Ruehl
— Day 31: Tom Thacker
— Day 32: Sydney Moss
— Day 33: Bob Schneider
— Day 34: The Walz family
— Day 35: John Toebben
— Day 36: Pat Scott
— Day 37: Bob Arnzen
— Day 38: Joan Mazzaro
— Day 39: Frank Jacobs
— Day 40: Adrienne Hundemer
— Day 41: The Draud family
— Day 42: Bill Krumpelbeck
— Day 43: The Molony family
— Day 44: Allen Feldhaus
— Day 45: The Maile family
— Day 46: Maureen Egan Corl
— Day 47: Bill Aker
— Day 48: Maureen Kaiser
— Day 49: John Brannen
— Day 50: Mike Bankemper