Cigar was the best horse in the last 30 years

For some reason on his radioshow Steve Byk doesn't want to give the horse the credit he deserves. If you look at what he did how can you argue he was a truly great horse. Nobody has done anything close to his 1995 season. I had to correct myself, it is just shy of 30 years, so lets say 25 years.


Career Highlights:
Undefeated in 1995, winning 10 of 10 starts, 8 of them Gr. I.
1995 Champion Handicap Male
1995 Horse of the Year
1996 Champion Handicap Male
1996 Horse of the Year
1996 Hwt Older Horse in UAE 9.5-11F
Carried 130 pounds to victory in the '96 Massachusetts Handicap.
Won 16 straight races from the Oct. 28, 1994 NYRA Mile through the July 13, 1996 Arlington Citation Challenge. Lost the 17th race, the Aug. 19, 1996 Pacific Classic (Gr. I) after engaging in a speed duel with Siphon, setting up a win by Dare and Go.
Cigar shares his 16 win streak with only one other North American runner in this century, Citation.
Won the inaugural running of the Dubai World Cup in 1996. Despite lacking a Gr. I status, it attracted the most accomplished (money earned) field in racing history to that point.
Won a total of 11 Gr. Is and the Dubai World Cup.
Retired as the leading North American money earner of all time with $9,999,813, a record which stands to this day.
Race Record

[letswastemoney]

Doesn't Mister Frisky and Hallowed Dreams also share that record

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Hail2Reason

For some reason on his radioshow Steve Byk doesn't want to give the horse the credit he deserves. If you look at what he did how can you argue he was a truly great horse. Nobody has done anything close to his 1995 season.

Career Highlights:
Undefeated in 1995, winning 10 of 10 starts, 8 of them Gr. I.
1995 Champion Handicap Male
1995 Horse of the Year
1996 Champion Handicap Male
1996 Horse of the Year
1996 Hwt Older Horse in UAE 9.5-11F
Carried 130 pounds to victory in the '96 Massachusetts Handicap.
Won 16 straight races from the Oct. 28, 1994 NYRA Mile through the July 13, 1996 Arlington Citation Challenge. Lost the 17th race, the Aug. 19, 1996 Pacific Classic (Gr. I) after engaging in a speed duel with Siphon, setting up a win by Dare and Go.
Cigar shares his 16 win streak with only one other North American runner in this century, Citation.
Won the inaugural running of the Dubai World Cup in 1996. Despite lacking a Gr. I status, it attracted the most accomplished (money earned) field in racing history to that point.
Won a total of 11 Gr. Is and the Dubai World Cup.
Retired as the leading North American money earner of all time with $9,999,813, a record which stands to this day.
Race Record

I don't know if I'd say the last 30 years, but he was certainly a great horse -- one of the very best I've ever been able to see.

However, I always tend to think of Skip Away as the best horse to run in America since I started following racing.

[dellinger63]

IMO he is the Larry Holmes of racing. Unfortunately or fortunately for him he faced little competition. Horses who finished 2nd to him in Grade I's include L 'Carriere (twice), Wekivia Springs, Unacconted For, Star Standard, Tinners Way, Devil His Due (twice), Pride of Bukaan and Primitive Hall. Hardly a bunch of world beaters.


Horses he lost to in Grade I's include Alphabet Soup, Explosive Red, Skip Away and Dare and Go. He was the best in the mid 90's when racing was weak.

[NoChanceToDance]

Personally, i'd have to say that The Green Monkey is the best horse in the last 30 years

[smuthg]

The last 30 years picks up Slew, Affirmed, and the Bid. Love Cigar, but don't think he could run with that crew...

I think there is a decent argument that Cigar was the best horse since the inception of the Breeders' Cup and a pretty strong argument that he's in the Top 5 since then.

[Slewbopper]

I guess Slew, Affirmed, and Bid were chopped liver. They would have all eaten him for lunch. I won't get into the Holy Bull debate. Just think Bull would have beaten him more often than not.

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by smuthg

The last 30 years picks up Slew, Affirmed, and the Bid. Love Cigar, but don't think he could run with that crew...

We know he couldn't run with them. You had to see Spectacular Bid run to really understand how good he was.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

We know he couldn't run with them. You had to see Spectacular Bid run to really understand how good he was.

An argument could be made that Cigar is the best since The Bid...certainly I have huge respect for several others but I would never say Cigar would be overmatched against any horse since the Bid retired.

[NTamm1215]

Cigar beat everyone who showed up for sixteen consecutive races. I know that is a trite way to argue the whole "who did he beat" debate, but it has to hold water.

I just don't feel the same way about Skip Away that many people do. When you mention him against Cigar I just immediately think Cigar was better, of course that's just a matter of personal opinion.

Ghostzapper is an interesting case in that when he got good, which was basically in his second career start, it almost seemed like no one could ever beat him. Think about the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic. That race included the 2003 Derby and Preakness winner fresh off a Jockey Club Gold Cup win, the 2002 Horse of the Year, the 2004 Belmont and Travers winner, the 2003 Breeders' Cup Classic winner and the 2004 Whitney winner and other Grade I winners. Ghostzapper beat these horses like a drum.

I like the whole debate a lot, but I'm just not willing to say anyone was the best of the last 30 years. I'm glad we had so many that the discussion can continue.

How many of you think that if Street Sense wins out and then was able to have a 4 year-old campaign (which we know he will not so this is hypothetical) that he would garner some consideration?

NT

[Danzig]

i doubt the streak would have happend had holy bull not suffered his injury. but that's racing.

i'd imagine there could be arguments made for many horses in the thirty year period. cigar was lucky enough to run in a period where there wasn't much top competition.
i think silver charm at his best would have beaten him. sunday silence would have taken him to school. at belmont, easy goer would beat him. that's off the top of my head, and ignoring the obvious such as seattle slew, the bid, etc.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i doubt the streak would have happend had holy bull not suffered his injury. but that's racing.

i'd imagine there could be arguments made for many horses in the thirty year period. cigar was lucky enough to run in a period where there wasn't much top competition.
i think silver charm at his best would have beaten him. sunday silence would have taken him to school. at belmont, easy goer would beat him. that's off the top of my head, and ignoring the obvious such as seattle slew, the bid, etc.

Personally, I think Risen Star may have been the best since The Bid but he never got to prove it...to many "ifs" but the Star's Belmont (on three good hooves) was a sight to see! Likewise, I rank Secretariat and Kincsem at the top of my "all time" list yet there is no way to prove they belong any more than others. The "who did he/she beat" argument is a bit meaningless to me...who did Man O War beat? Certainly I can argue that he ducked the best of his generation...Exterminator. He did handle a worn-down Sir Barton. Ribot destroyed all he faced but what was their quality? Fun discussion but simply a matter of personal opinion.

Does the winning horse in this competition get a pretty sash with letters covered in rhinestones that read "DeeTee Forum Bestest Horse Evar?"

If so, I'm going to vote for Best Pal.

[Danzig]

well, the original title/post really is mistaken. as others said, in the last 30 years, you would have to include seattle slew, affirmed, and the bid. so, no, cigar wasn't the best in the last 30 years.
it would be the late, great seatle slew. then affirmed, and then the bid. yes, in that order. one beat the next, who beat the third. yes, i know, four over a three year old.

We need a poll option so we can do a knockoff of the ESPN NOW deal. Since good horses hardly run anymore, what better way to get excited about the game than have a popularity contest?

[cowgirlintexas]

Well my "favorite" is Cigar... I just loved to watch him lower that head and go for it. Heck, I get goosebumps even now thinking about him running. He did allot for racing and helping to bring in new fans and that is always a Big + for racing as did most of the other horses that are being mentioned... This will always be a matter of opinion and the "best" will never get a 100% of the votes.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

We need a poll option so we can do a knockoff of the ESPN NOW deal. Since good horses hardly run anymore, what better way to get excited about the game than have a popularity contest?

oh please no. i thought that espn now thing was stupid.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Spectacular Bid was 24-for-24, with 14 Grade 1 wins, and numerous track record between the distances of 7-to-10 furlongs. He also had the record for fastest Ragozin sheet figure ever run for over 23 years.

Cigar is certainly not in the top five horses to have raced in the last thirty years.

[cowgirlintexas]

Originally Posted by Cardus

What fans did he bring to the sport? Aside from attendance figures for the Derby, Preakness, Breeders' Cup, and opening days at Del Mar and Saratoga, where are the fans brought to the sport by Cigar?

"Brought new fans to the sport" is a throwaway line.

I'm sure there are thousands... and a few on here as well...When horses make the news and make history people notice and get involved... Point is he did a good thing for racing , was a great horse and can never be credited as "just another horse".

[Indian Charlie]

there are so many great and forgotten horses over the last 30 years, i would be hard pressed to include cigar in my top 30 over the last 30 years.

i'll start with 3. precisionist, greinton and spend a buck.