"The unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable ...... Cigar"

We are very fortunate and blessed to have so many stars in the sport of thoroughbred racing. After all, they are what make the sport what it is. Today we have Wise Dan and he's showed this past weekend why he's is the reining two-time Horse of the Year. In recent years, fillies like; Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra captured the sport with their brilliance. When I started following the sport nearly 30 years ago, the "heyday" of the fantastic 70's with runners like; Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Spectacular Bid were a distant memory. While the Breeder's Cup was created to showcase thoroughbreds in the mid 80's, there wasn't just one horse to capture the sport of kings attention. That was until Fall of 1994.

There was a very mediocre turf runner from the west coast, who changed trainers and shipped to New York trying to find an identity. It was apparent that grass wasn't his game with only one victory in eleven starts. So, his new trainer Bill Mott decided to switch him to dirt for the first time since his two year old season. That was October 28, 1994 at Aqueduct in a non-winners of two allowance test at a mile. That was the birth of a superstar and his name was Cigar.

This past Tuesday, the two-time Horse of the Year - Cigar past away at the age of 24 after complications from neck surgery. The scope and impact this son of Palace Music had on the sport in a time when it needed a superstar was just the shot in the arm thoroughbred racing needed. That surface switch started an incredible journey that lasted through the summer of 1996 and a streak of 16 straight victories. Cigar along with Bill Mott and Jerry Bailey became a household name.

After winning on dirt for the first time since his two year old season, he ran next in the 1994 NYRA Mile (a race which is named for him now) and that would be the last time he ever paid over $10 to win. He took the torch from Holy Bull by winning the 1995 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park and only ran in grade I events after that expect his two Massachusetts Handicap wins at Suffolk Downs, who closed down for good also this past weekend. His 1995 season was one for the record books, 10 straight wins at six different tracks. Beside the Donn Handicap, he won the Gulfstream Park Handicap, Oaklawn Handicap, Pimlico Special, Mass Cap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Woodward Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup. Quite a resume for any horse. The wonder year of '95 was topped off by his victory in the Breeder's Cup Classic at Belmont Park. I was there in person to see the "the unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable Cigar" as Tom Durkin called it, complete an undefeated racing season. That streak would continue four races into the summer of '96 with aim to break Citation's consecutive race win streak from 1948. But in the Pacific Classic, Dare and Go defeated him and stopped the streak at 16. After racing 13 of the last 17 months, Cigar would only race three more times after the streak ending defeat. He ended his career with two straight loss and 19 victories in 33 lifetime starts, earning just under 10 millions for his career.

He would retire to stud in 1997, only unable to successful cover any mares. He spent his remaining years at the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champion until his death. Cigar was a horse that truly saved thoroughbred racing during a time the sport was trying to find a identity. He became a household name and transcended the sport. Even though he never had any offspring to carry on his legacy, Cigar was a champion both on and off the track. Cigar captured the mines of the fans with his will to win. Cigar brought the sport of thoroughbred to many people, Cigar saved racing.