Young jockey rides into history
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A: Born May 1, 1960, in Covington, Ky., Steve Cauthen competed in his first race at the age of 16. In his second year, he won 487 races and became the first jockey to win $6 million in one season. In 1978, he rode Affirmed to the Triple Crown. By 1979, he was having trouble making weight. He moved to England, where jockeys are a bit heavier, and he continued his winning ways. After his retirement from riding, he returned to Kentucky and took an executive position at a raceway near his hometown. Inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) in 1994, Cauthen is married with several children.
Q: To me, Uma Thurman is the most beautiful fashion model in the world, and she’s also an incredibly talented actress. Is Uma her real name? ‘ J.C.F., Oakland, Ore.
A: Uma Karuna Thurman entered the world April 29, 1970, in Boston, Mass. Her father was a celebrated professor of Buddhist studies, while her mother, a model and psychotherapist, was once married to LSD guru Timothy Leary (for less than a year). There is some conflict among biographers about the origin of her unusual first name, but most say she was named after the goddess of light and beauty in Indian mythology.
Q: Martha Stewart, business magnate, TV host, author, magazine editor and homemaking advocate, was once married. Is Stewart her married or maiden name? ‘ J.M., Carson City, Nev.
A: Born Aug. 3, 1941, in Jersey City, N.J., Martha Helen Kostyra married her college sweetheart, Andrew Stewart, in 1961. They had one daughter, Alexis, who was born in 1965. Martha and Andy went their separate ways in 1990.
Q: Which NFL quarterback holds the record for the most yards rushing in one season? ‘ H.P., Tampa, Fla.
A: Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick ran for 1,039 yards in 2006.
Q: Was there once a Major League Baseball player named ‘Vinegar Bend’ Mizell? ‘ H.H., Woburn, Mass.
A: Wilmer David ‘Vinegar Bend’ Mizell (1930-1999) was a left-handed pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1952-1960), Pittsburgh Pirates (1960-1962) and New York Mets (1962). Born and raised in Leakesville, Miss., he played baseball in nearby Vinegar Bend, Ala., providing him with this unusual nickname. After baseball, he worked in the private sector and then entered politics in 1967. As a Republican, he was elected to a seat in the U.S. Congress, where he served from 1971 to 1975. Mizell was later appointed to several government posts before finally retiring to private life.
Q: In the mid-1980s, a TV show called ‘Knight Rider’ filled the airwaves. It wasn’t one of my favorites, but I did watch it occasionally. The series followed the exploits of Michael Knight (played by David Hasselhoff) and his incredible Pontiac Trans Am, which would help bring the bad guys to justice. The car was named KITT. Why that name? ‘ M.F., Hartford, Mich.
A: The series began with dying millionaire Wilton Knight saving the life of an undercover cop who had been shot. After plastic surgery, the police officer took a new identity, Michael Knight. His crime-fighting arsenal featured KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand), a smart car with artificial intelligence. KITT was capable of cruising at 300 miles per hour and soaring 50 feet in the air; it also possessed many other crime-fighting technologies. The show aired from 1982 to 1986.
(Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All, c/o United Feature Syndicate, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016.)