Cigar - 1996 Dubai World Cup

[flatonia]

On re-watch I'm amazed at the heart shown by both those horses.  SOTM came on so fast that Cigar could have easily thrown in the towel. Great race!

[GBeret83]

The trip to Dubai for the DWC shows how sporting the Paulson's truly were!! Here Cigar was right in the middle of chasing the most consecutive win's streak, at the time, set by Citation, and they fly him 7000 miles to the UAE after he'd already won 13 straight races to face the best horses in the world. Cigar's 96' Dubai World Cup win was his 14th of 16 straight win's. It can never be said that this horse took the easy path to tying Citation's record.

[Webuiltthepyramids]

@Thedrummergirl19 Go the the Kentucky Horse Park. You can walk right up to his stall. I've met him twice.

[mshobohorse]

SOTM put up a good fight, glad to see Cigar fight for the lead. I find it more exciting.

[rasaele1385]

that is a talking horse....he has the heart of a true champion...we salute on you cigar...

[XxMill3rDuty360xX]

Just went to Lexington kentucky and got pics of this amazing horse

[25beckybaby]

Towards the end, it looked like Cigar looked back saw SOTM, and dug deeper, great race.

[edgar95035]

Jerry had to ask a lot from Cigar..but Cigar delivered to the wire...a true Champion

[Saffron49]

He is still looking fiesty and strong at 20 years old. You can visit him at Kentucky Horse Park

[rzagza11]

Now this is what its all about right here. A true champion. One of the all timers. Right there with Sunday Silence and Easy Goer.

[MuttsLuver1]

When i went to the Kentucky Horse Park, i got to stand next to him, touch him, and i was in heaven! He is truely amazing!

[BackstretchUnderdog]

@MuttsLuver1 That he is!

[BloodyWarrior298]

Incredible. And to think, I was born the year my favorite racehorse of all time won the Dubai!

[GBeret83]

It was America that won the first Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba. And America that won the last at Nad Al Sheba. Cigar in 96' and Well Armed in 09'.  American horses have won 8 of the 15 runnings of the Dubai World Cup. Dominance!!!

[bg147]

The sayonara remark was hilarious, but a bit disrespectful. I wonder what the horse's owner thought.

[GBeret83]

First time I've watched the replay of this race for quite some time. I had really forgotten what a great race if was. Cigar just really was one of the most absolutely tenacious competitors that was ever on the track. IMO.

[bg147]

When it appears that Soul of the Matter closes the gap rapidly, I think that he is actually veering in which makes it appear that he is closing faster than he really was. Cigar pulled away late. In the Pacific Classic, Dare and Go looked to be going right by and Cigar dug in for a bit eventhough he was spent. Gamer. People can fault him all they want but he was class.

[harryhawk5]

Cigar is truely the champion!!

[jasonm921]

soul of the matter was a good horse when he was on....and he was on here. I'll never forget how long this stretch seemed when I watched this race live.

[wwraymond]

If he saw you, you were dead. What a heart

[brianclough]

Fitting winner for the 1st World cup, won by a great great horse.

As the commentator said, he just won't be denied.

[tjprzewo]

You don't see many race horses hold off a late flyer like Soul of the Matter in the late stretch. What a champion.

[Skoshi33]

"And this Cigar, he's going their double"

[Skoshi33]

" And look at that horse travel". Graham Goode was all that and then some.

[nizonetotv]

Jerry Baily = master jockey

[slewicide9]

Graham Goode was the best racecaller of the 1980's and did this race a wonderful service....Sionara to the Japanese horse...lol

[bnegs521]

Cigar looked Soul of The Matter right in the eye and just would not let him pass. What a great race. I am sure the jock on Soul regrets not taking him a bit wider so Cigar could not look him right in the eye.

[notoriousrogue]

I saw Cigar last year at the horse park and he licked my hand! I thought I would faint :)  Unbelievable horse!

[mywar]

wow,amazing match

[royescobar1977]

My compliments to Cigar, I like the way that He contained the other horse, just amazing.

[3dog9ty]

The best ever is an arguement that could rage into eternity but the real dream matchup would consist of an 18 horse field complete with champions from all eras and backgrounds. From Cigar to Pharlap with Man-o-war and his son War Admiral and Sea Biscut and without a doubt many others like Ferdinand and Ghostzapper. But to me they would all be fighting it out for second place with Secretariat four lengths in front at the wire!

[jjw00004]

why doesn't anyone ever pay mind to Omaha and Gallant Fox, the ONLY father son to win the Triple Crown

[blackhorse1818]

This is cool! I'd never actually seen Cigar run before, although a few years ago i went and saw him at the Kentucky Horse Park!

[jkumar8]

It's a shame that Cigar was a stud on the racetrack but a dud in the breeding shed. One could only imagine his progeny being comparable to that of his most successful contemporaries.

[drfager01]

people keep saying what he accomplished for his age listen he came into his own at 5 years old before that he did nothing on the racetrack. Try john henry if you know any thing about him he was winning G1s at 9 years old.

[KyDerby]

You're right about John Henry but John Henry didn't win as many Grade 1's in a row as Cigar. In fact no one has.

[jasonm921]

Cigar is very similar to Forego in quality or at least should be in regards to legacy.

[mastiffs36]

Easy goer and sunday silence beat him by ten lenghts, his strenght was consistency not pure unbridled speed,the other two horses were better athletes and had more talent.

[rzagza11]

This is what you call GREATNESS. For a horse of that age to come back in that long stretch when threatened by another horse like that is something you just don't see often. Amazing. I wouldve loved to have seen prime Cigar face off with Sunday Silence and Easy Goer in 1989.

[gunloc26]

I believe if Candy Ride had been better handled by his trainer's and owner's he would have been the best known horse out of Argentinia, not Invasor. All his connection's had their head in the sand!

[mastiffs36]

Cigar, 19 out of 33 its sad to say those 16 races was his whole career. Lets be real before the streak 3 out of 17 all probably allowance class,yeah i know you,ll say they took him off the grass and put him on dirt, but look that was still his career.

[JSanity01]

You cant count what he did on the grass against him, he wasnt a turf horse. His record on dirt was just as good as anyone. 21 starts on dirt 18 wins, 2 nds and a 3rd. He should have never been on the turf in the first place.

[mastiffs36]

Listen, i will give gigar consistency but as far as him bieng the best on dirt in 20 years thats a very bold statement, lets say most consistent older horse, going to the desert to run dont make him a great horse. If you dont know i can name horses that can whup him, ghostzapper, holy bull ,skip away who did whup him and that as a 3 year old,conquistador cielo,easy goer, sunday silence, alysheba, precisionist, grienton thats just naming a few.

[FORESTDONS]

agree 100%

[bg147]

Haha... spare me. Cigar was a stud. He ran his race every time, he never had an off day on the dirt. Never. It does not matter who is the best or who was the best. Over a course of 16 races, Cigar was the best every time.

Any horse who can hook Siphon and put him away is a monster.

[saveus228]

Gentlemen did that on a regular basis. Siphon wasn't all that. Gentlemen bled through the lungs and still only lost to Siphon by 3 lengths.

[jhordanian]

Maybe in a one race showdown horses such as Sunday Silence, Easy Goer, Gentlemen, Formal Gold, Skip Away, Candy Ride, Ghostzapper could beat Cigar. However, true greatness is the combination of ability/brilliance AND consistency. Rather than looking at one race, imagine a series of 10 races on the dirt at different tracks. Eliminate Gentlemen, Formal Gold, Ghostzapper and Candy Ride because they wouldn't be able to even make 10 races. SS, EG and SA would be forminable but not 10 lengths best

[jhordanian]

Skip Away "whup" Cigar? I guess your definition of "whup" is to win by a head receiving 5 pounds.

[superemperador1]

5 pounds weight for age....and louis quatorze wearing out skippy up front.

[JSanity01]

You ask any expert and majority will have Cigar higher then anyone on that list. Conquistador Cielo and Precisionist didnt even make the bloodhorse top 100. Sunday Silence is ranked 31th, Skip Away 32th, Easy Goer 34th, Alysheba 42 and Holy Bull ranked 64th. Holy Bull should be ranked higher, at least right in front of Easy Goer or behind. Ghostzapper freakishly fast. But a flash in the pan. Im not downplaying any of these horses, but there experts for the most part got it right.

[cbender3]

Invasor? Not trying to nit pick and I understand that each generation has their favorite but come on man....

Invasor lost a grade 2 and had earnings of less than 1/2 of cigars even though purses have almost doubled since cigar ran.

Cigar happens to be my favorite but i would say secretariat has a pretty good claim at being "the best"

[samsam29]

Yeah, I would put Secretariat at the top, although Man O' War has a pretty good claim to it too. But Cigar shouldn't have a claim for the top 50, much less be in the same sentence as Secretariat!

[jhordanian]

What serious and knowledgable analyst ever put Cigar alongside Secretariat? I cannot think of one reputable racing jounalist/handicapper that said Cigar was better or even equal to Secretariat. You're creating a straw man to argue against, but such a straw man never existed.

[samsam29]

The guy who I was actually replying to put them both in the same sentence, conceding that Secretariat has a claim at being the best even though Cigar is his favorite. Me, I just stated my opinion based on what I was replying to. Next time, try to read the whole context before trying to sound all mighty.

[JSanity01]

He is one of the great ones indeed. But there is not too many horses that can compare with Secretariat. The thing about Cigar is that he won grade 1s on both coast. And won races such as the Donn, Pimilico Special, Oaklawn handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Woodward, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Breeders Cup Classic, Dubia World Cup and the MassCap carrying a 130lbs while spotting the field 12-20 lbs. What more do people want from him? If he had set a world record they will shut up

[escapeartist50]

exaclty

[superemperador1]

good point

[marban14]

is gooD but invasor , the best

[Rodney81818]

The Unbeatable Cigar. He was unbeatable in his prime

[creaturelover]

Cigar is the greatest!

I'm going to the '08 Dubai World Cup! I want Curlin to run so I can see him in real life!

[Skoshi33]

Best horse we saw on dirt over the last 20 years.

[ruffchamp1]

cigar a world champion, 16 in succession, the best horse since easy goer and spectacular bid!!!

[kwigga]

heavy urging ...that's why he lost the Classic ...A GREAT CHAMPION nonetheless

[thoroughbredgirl]

i saw him today at kentucky horse park he is so great . i have his cusin skeddadle seattle and she just had a foal named miss erin she is chestnut and realy cute but cigar looks exactully like my mare skeddadle seattle but she is taller 18 hands to be exact

[bajesax]

True test of a horse is reaction under pressure and Cigar showed his guts in this one,not made of just pace and stamina, but guts as well.

Truly great.

[chuchupogi]

Amen to that brother.

[jessesmith13]

I love when on the streatch when the horse gets up to cigar in his line of vison and cigar says to him I don't think so bro this is my race later.

[12exceller]

What a wonderful compliment paid, when the announcer said of Cigar.. "And look at that horse travel." He was a great one.

[lovetheponies]

You can visit the legend, Cigar, at the Kentucky Horse Park Hall of Champions. His barn is across from the other living legend, John Henry. The talk often about their races...:-)

[greenbayracer]

Cigar is a exalint horse I ramember tat cigar 16 race win streak got surpassed by a horse in Japan

[bestluckbarbaro]

col

[bgardiner2000]

He was pretty special indeed. The best horse to win the World Cup that's for sure. The only horse to come near to him in that race has been Dubai Millenium.

[ruffchamp1]

a WORLD champion...cigar ..unstoppable dynamo!

[partymanners]

I remember watching this live back in 96, hard to believe it was 11 years ago..

[cf1970]

Yeah, time flies. Cigar sure was something special. I loved his fightback when it looked like he would be passed by SOTM. Here's to more glory days to come! Thanks for stopping by, youtube brother. God bless.

[aaronbees]

Incredible race!

[cf1970]

Yes indeed. A classic. Take care.

[flatonia]

Nice to see Cigar win a tough one, turning back Soul of the Matter in the Dubai World Cup.

He was rarely tested in his 16 race win streak.

Thanks for posting it!

[cf1970]

Glad you liked it. He and SOTM ran their hearts out that day. I really liked the slow-mo footage after the race too. Take care.

[TicinoParadise]

@flatonia - I agree, and what could have been if the Great Holy Bull didn't break down in the Donn. Cheers.