Horse of the 90's

When someone asks whom the greatest racehorses of the past fifty years, horses like Secretariat, Affirmed, Seattle Slew, and maybe even Zenyatta come to mind. No doubt, those names will live on forever as the greats, but there is one horse that comes to my mind as one of the greats, if not one of the greatest. He did not win a Triple Crown, but he was one of the best handicap horses of the past twenty years. Foaled in 1990, the son of Palace Music out of a Seattle Slew mare, Cigar was just a tiny bay colt in the huge world of thoroughbred racing. No one at Country Life Farm in Maryland knew what he would eventually become.

            Not reaching the races until his three year old year, trainer Alex Hassinger Jr. sent the son of Palace Music to the gate nine times, only winning twice, his best races were his second place in the G3 Volante Handicap at Santa Anita. Hassinger tried Cigar on the grass and kept him there. Cigar was the low-level graded stakes horse, how a very high level allowance runner. Cigar didn’t even break $100,000 for his first year on the track.

            Cigar would blossom at four, thanks to a switch of stables and surfaces. By this time, he was on the east coast with Bill Mott, who really got Cigar to the next level. Flourishing back on dirt, Cigar stepped up into grade one company, winning the NYRA Mile. We all know that there is no longer a NYRA Mile, thanks to Cigar. We now know this race as the Cigar Mile. This was his best win to date, proving his could compete and beat the best. While winning the NYRA Mile by 8 lengths, Cigar put away the rising star, Devil His Due. This win also was the start of something America had not seen since the late 1940’s. Cigar began his winning streak here, which would last almost two years!

            As a five year old, Cigar began beating up on some of the best horses, even more talked about than him in today’s racing industry. He began his third campaign in an allowance, which was an easy win. He then entered the Donn Handicap, which ended up with Cigar beating Holy Bull. This was actually the race that ended Holy Bull’s career, as he was injured in the race. Cigar then moved up to 10 furlongs to win the Gulfstream Park Handicap. Cigar moved on through his five-year-old season by winning the Oaklawn Handicap by beating 1994 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, Concern, the Pimlico Special over Devil His Due and Concern. Mott then shipped Cigar out west to Hollywood Park for the Hollywood Gold Cup. Mott was concerned with the hard surfaces out west, and the field was stacking up to be one of the best the race would see. Cigar would end up winning the race over Best Pal, Tinner’s Way, Concern, and Urgent Request. By year’s end, Cigar would also take home the Woodward, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which would stand until 2002. This extended Cigar’s record to 12 straight.

            In his six year old season, Cigar continued winning. Traveling to Dubai for the first Dubai World Cup, Cigar continued to write history by winning more and more races. He returned home to repeat a win in the Donn Handicap. He then won the Massachusetts Handicap, which would carry his record to 15 straight. Winning a special stakes race at Arlington, he tied Citation for longest winning streak. Cigar was not meant to take his streak to 17.

            The Pacific Classic was a race that tired Cigar after a speed duel, where he finished second to closer Dare and Go. He rebounded in a repeat win in the Woodward. His last two races would be a second and third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

            Upon his retirement, Cigar was the top money earner, two-time Champion Older Male and Horse of the Year. Cigar was sold to Coolmore to begin his stud career. He covered 34 mares in his first year, but none proved in foal. Cigar was infertile. Moved to the Kentucky Horse Park, Cigar now lives a life of leisure. He participates in the Hall of Champions show, and enjoyed his daily roll in his paddock. At age 24, Cigar doesn’t look his age, and very calm considering he is still a stallion intact. He enjoys grazing and showing off for photographers. You can see photographs of Cigar at pixbysteve.com.

~Written by Casey Laughter