A week ago tonight, on 10/27/15, among all the preparation and anticipation for this year’s Breeders’ Cup, a gathering of people assembled at the grave of Cigar to honor him with a new memorial statue. Gone but not forgotten, Cigar won the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 1995. This Sunday I paid my respects to his grave site once again.
Being the lucky Lexingtonian that I am, I have had the treat of making multiple trips to the Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington, KY, over the course of my life. I have had the pleasure of meeting Cigar as well. He lived at the Horse Park from 1999 until his death October 7, 2014. I saw his grave at the KY Horse Park Memorial Walk of Champions this past July. Last week, Kentucky artist and former horse trainer, Douwe Blumberg, revealed his statue depicting Cigar’s Breeders’ Cup race. Cigar’s trainer, Bill Mott, and his jockey, Jerry Bailey attended the unveiling of the new statue. Many kind words were spoken and memories shared at the presentation. Cigar is remembered as charismatic and an ambassador with spirit and determination.
History remembers Cigar as the Thoroughbred who won 16 straight races in a row. Only Citation and Zenyatta have done as well. He was sired by Palace Music and his dam was Solar Slew by Seattle Slew, 1977 Triple Crown winner. He was a late bloomer. He didn’t race at all until he was 3 years old and he didn’t stop racing until he was 6. Cigar was born April 18th in 1990 in Maryland and owned by Allen Paulson. By 1995 he won the BC Classic going 1 and 1/4 miles in 1:59.58, a record. He went on to be Horse of the Year and American Champion Older Male Horse each in 1995 and again in 1996. He also won the internationally famed Dubai World Cup. He retired as the leading Thoroughbred in earnings at over $9 million dollars. Cigar is the American Horse of the Decade for the 1990s. In 2002 he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Blood-Horse ranked him 18th in the U.S. Thoroughbred Champions of the 20th Century. There is a life sized statue of Cigar at Gulfstream Park in Florida where he won the Donn Handicap. The Cigar Mile at Aquaduct Race Track in New York is named for him.
When he retired to stud he went to Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky. This is the same place American Pharoah moved to yesterday. Unfortunately, Cigar proved to be sterile. He retired again to the KY Horse Park Hall of Champions where he lived out his days. He developed osteoarthritis and at 24 he needed surgery. Following surgery he died in recovery from a vertebral fracture. At the KY Horse Park he is buried near Alysheba, Forego, Bold Forbes, Kona Gold and John Henry.
Near his grave healthy and happy lives go on for the other champion Thoroughbreds, barn cats and visitors but no one can forget our great, Cigar. As his statue and stone state, Cigar is incomparable, unconquerable, invincible and unbeatable. Please, share and read along about all of my Thoroughbred posts and look for a Keeneland November Sale story coming soon!
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