Steve Cauthen: I regret not winning the Arc but I did record a country album

What do you remember about winning your first Classic on Tap On Wood in 1979?
Peter Walker

I'd won my first race in Britain just four weeks earlier [on Marquee Universal at Salisbury], so landing the 2,000 Guineas was a great way to establish myself. Kris was the overwhelming favourite in a field of 20 for the Guineas and he looked impossible to beat after winning the Greenham, so I went down to the start as a 20-1 shot with no great expectations. Barry [Hills] had told me just to tuck him in, try to follow the right horses and if I was still going good at the Dip to kick on. I got him relaxed and he was settled nicely towards the back and handling the firm ground okay. Going into the Dip I was tracking Kris and going sweetly, so I kicked, got first run on him, got far enough ahead of him, finished real strong and just held on by half a length, with Young Generation a short head away in third. I'm sure I made a few friends and a few enemies beating a hot favourite like that, but it was a great start to my stay in England. It was a good thing for me and my time with Barry. People suddenly realised I could win Classics, although it took me a long time to win my next one [the 1985 1,000 Guineas on Oh So Sharp].

Steve Cauthen lands his first British Classic success on Tap On Wood (centre) in the 1979 2,000 GuineasCredit: George Selwyn

Why did you come over and why do you think so few American jockeys have come since?
Teddy Latham

A big part of why I came was the same reason Cash [Asmussen] went to France: because of my weight. As biggish young guys we knew weight was going to be an issue for us pretty quick in America and although the difference in riding weights was only 4-5lb, that meant the world, it was a huge thing. I still ended up having weight issues eventually – we both did – but I still managed to ride for 17 years, Cash maybe for 20, whereas in America we'd probably have lasted no more than seven or eight and been killing ourselves to do it.