Cigar Famous Racehorse

On October 28, 1995, at Belmont Park, a 5-year-old bay horse became America’s best-known racehorse. It was the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, the richest race in America. With jockey Jerry Bailey wearing owner Allen Paulson’s red, white, and blue silks, this Seattle Slew grandson took off and left the rest of the field standing. Five months later in the debut of the Dubai World Cup, Cigar overcame a hoof crack to win against the best of the world’s best. As a 3-year-old, he was less than impressive; trainer Alex Hassinger tried him on dirt and turf tracks, but Cigar won only two of nine starts. As a 4-year-old, owner Allen Paulson sent him to his east coast trainer, Bill Mott. Mott tried him on turf, then switched him back to dirt tracks - where Cigar began to show his greatness. From that race on October 28, 1994 through July 13, 1996 - encompassing all ten starts as a 5-year-old - Cigar won all 16 races he ran, equaling the great Citation’s winning streak! By his retirement as a 6-year-old, Cigar had earned his owners almost ten million dollars a record that will surely stand for many years to come. His winning streak and edge-of-the-seat victories earned him the 1995 and 1996 Horse of the Year and Champion Handicap Male titles, track records, and adoring fans worldwide. In a cruel quirk of fate, this great champion was not to become a successful sire as he was found to be infertile. Instead, Cigar enjoys the adulation of the millions of visitors to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky where he enjoys his retirement.

Article courtesy of Breyer horses

Date Retired by Breyer: May 1, 2005