Ronald “Tex” Cauthen, whose sons Doug, Kerry, and Steve have reached prominent positions in racing, died June 1 in his sleep at his farm near Walton, Ky. He was 76.
Born in Muleshoot, Texas, Cauthen grew up on his grandfather’s farm near Sweetwater, Texas. As a teenager, he went to work on a ranch breaking wild horses before taking a job at a racetrack in San Angelo in the Lone Star State. He accompanied two racehorses to New Orleans when he was 15. He remained on the Midwest racing circuit until he was drafted into the Army and trained as a meteorologist in 1952.
Upon his return to civilian life from Panama, Cauthen attended the blacksmith program at Michigan State University, which had deferred his enrollment until after the draft, and became a well-respected racetrack farrier. He was elected in the inaugural class of the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame in 1993.
Cauthen married licensed trainer and owner Myra Bischoff in June 1959, and the following year their first son, Steve, was born. After the birth of their second son, Doug, the Cauthens bought a small farm and settled permanently in Walton, where their third son, Kerry, was born.
Steve won the 1978 Triple Crown aboard Harbor View’s Affirmed as a teenager and later rode in Europe. He is a member of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
Doug is president of Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm, which is located near Versailles, Ky. Kerry is managing partner of Four Star Sales, a Lexington-based consignment outfit.
In addition to his sons, Cauthen is survived by Myra, and four grandchildren.
There will be a memorial Mass service for Tex Cauthen at 3:00 p.m. June 7 at All Saints Church, 62 Needmore Street, in Walton, Ky. Services are being handled by Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home of Walton.There will be no visitation.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to:
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor
Norwalk, Conn. 06851
www.multiplemyeloma.org