[1] Born in Hamilton, Ohio, Cavalaris served in the US Merchant Marine in World War II.
[citation needed] Some of Cavalaris' most noteworthy clients were Allen Case, Peter D. Fuller, George R. Gardiner, Margaret Seitz, and Joan Reid.
[2] Among the most famous horses he trained were Cool Reception, Henry Tudor, Ice Water, and Victorian Era.
He was also the trainer of Dancer's Image, who won the 1968 Kentucky Derby on the track but was disqualified two days later due to testing positive for traces of the pain-killer phenylbutazone, a substance later made legal by the Kentucky Racing Commission.
Other famous winners he trained were Arctic Blizzard, Carney's Point, Chatty Cavalier, Double Quill, Haymaker's Jig, James Bay, Mary of Scotland, Monte Christo II, Orbiter, Plegada, Prompt Hero, The Knack II, Two Violins, Vindent de Paul, and Yukon Eric.