I have been in racing 35 years and there is zero doubt that when Cigar was right he was an all time top 12 horse....he ran a sub 2 min mile and 1/4 at least twice maybe 3 times....he was a real push button horse who could make 2 and 3 runs within a race.....anyone who thinks Cigar would not be very competitive vs slew, affirmed, spectacular bid etc really needs to go back to racing 101
aww always thought he said "unconquerable" Now I have to go back and listen again. Either way, I really miss Durkin's awesome, dramatic calls. He has such a way with capturing and channeling emotion. I'm so sad that he stopped calling the Breeder's Cup and now the Triple Crown.
Brilliant horse; when he won the Dubai World Cup he proved how deep he could dig. For the record, I backed Halling in the Breeders Cup Classic - tailed off by around 57 lengths :P
The 1995 BC Classic and the 1996 Dubai World Cup were just 2 of the races right in the middle of that 16 race win streak that Cigar accomplished to tie Citation's record. Which stood at the time. Zenyatta has since eclipsed both. But no one can ever say the Paulson's weren't sporting, and took the easy path with Cigar for his 16 straight win's. He raced in the biggest G1 races of the day, against all the best horses of his era!!
Truly, is was almost like a cruel joke that Cigar, arguably one of America's greatest horses ever, ended up being sterile, and never got to pass those champion's genes along. Coolmore-Ireland bought Cigar's breeding rights. Under agreement with Alan Paulson that Cigar would stand stud at Coolmore's American facility. Just over the past 8 or 9 years, look at the great horses that Galileo and Montjeu have sired for Coolmore-Ireland. Just imagine if they would've had Cigar prior to those two? Scary
I can't believe he is rated only at 18th given his wins overseas. There's no much he could have achieved in his career than he did. I don't see how it's possible that any horse from now could be ranked ahead of Spectacular Bid. I wonder Zenyatta will rank if she wins her last race?
One day I was at Saratoga and Durkin comes on the loud speaker, "Special anouncement, there is a massive power outage across New York State, but more importantly the 10th race at Saratoga is off the turf."
Whatever you think of Cigar, he is the fourth horse ever to go undefeated in the much more difficult handicap division while running a full schedule. The other three are Man O'War-1920, Tom Fool- 1953 and Spectacular Bid- 1980. That is pretty good company to be in.
My favorite Durkin line in the race occurs near the one minute mark: "Cigar wants to go to the lead, but Jerry Bailey says 'NO!... Not yet!", just the way he said it was nothing short of epic
People here also seem to forget towards the end of his streak he visited another continent. 5000mile journey is not something horse's do often and still win.
i love cigar first of all he is one of my favorites cigar was not undeafeted he wasnt even a good horse till the streak began but his heart was amazing
The most impressive thing about his time being 1:59 50 is the fact that the first half mile was run in more than 48 seconds. He really had to pick up in the final 3/4 miles.
renduke Says:
13/01/2012 2:23:58 AM
I have been in racing 35 years and there is zero doubt that when Cigar was right he was an all time top 12 horse....he ran a sub 2 min mile and 1/4 at least twice maybe 3 times....he was a real push button horse who could make 2 and 3 runs within a race.....anyone who thinks Cigar would not be very competitive vs slew, affirmed, spectacular bid etc really needs to go back to racing 101
rldean1975 Says:
12/11/2011 2:48:54 PM
aww always thought he said "unconquerable" Now I have to go back and listen again. Either way, I really miss Durkin's awesome, dramatic calls. He has such a way with capturing and channeling emotion. I'm so sad that he stopped calling the Breeder's Cup and now the Triple Crown.
ghanimajade Says:
14/10/2011 3:21:00 PM
"Uncomprable, invincible, unbeatable, CIGAR!" I love it!
Laytonia1977 Says:
1/10/2011 6:08:37 AM
Brilliant horse; when he won the Dubai World Cup he proved how deep he could dig. For the record, I backed Halling in the Breeders Cup Classic - tailed off by around 57 lengths :P
GBeret83 Says:
21/09/2011 6:46:30 PM
The 1995 BC Classic and the 1996 Dubai World Cup were just 2 of the races right in the middle of that 16 race win streak that Cigar accomplished to tie Citation's record. Which stood at the time. Zenyatta has since eclipsed both. But no one can ever say the Paulson's weren't sporting, and took the easy path with Cigar for his 16 straight win's. He raced in the biggest G1 races of the day, against all the best horses of his era!!
GBeret83 Says:
6/09/2011 4:53:29 AM
Truly, is was almost like a cruel joke that Cigar, arguably one of America's greatest horses ever, ended up being sterile, and never got to pass those champion's genes along. Coolmore-Ireland bought Cigar's breeding rights. Under agreement with Alan Paulson that Cigar would stand stud at Coolmore's American facility. Just over the past 8 or 9 years, look at the great horses that Galileo and Montjeu have sired for Coolmore-Ireland. Just imagine if they would've had Cigar prior to those two? Scary
queenluciaa Says:
2/02/2011 5:15:10 AM
Someone tried to say Zenyatta was the best horse they've seen since Spectacular Bid. Then I showed them this video xD.
Saffron49 Says:
10/01/2011 5:56:21 AM
He is now 20 and still looks fabulous. You can see him at the Kentucky Horse Park.
bgardiner2000 Says:
24/10/2010 2:45:05 AM
I can't believe he is rated only at 18th given his wins overseas. There's no much he could have achieved in his career than he did. I don't see how it's possible that any horse from now could be ranked ahead of Spectacular Bid. I wonder Zenyatta will rank if she wins her last race?
205seeme Says:
30/07/2010 3:23:54 AM
I love to watch the jockeys get into it "but not the whip part"...He was riding the hell outta Cigar
ddido4604 Says:
9/04/2010 5:55:19 AM
One day I was at Saratoga and Durkin comes on the loud speaker, "Special anouncement, there is a massive power outage across New York State, but more importantly the 10th race at Saratoga is off the turf."
bbmtge Says:
14/02/2010 6:41:11 AM
cf1970...thanks for posting...just beginning to "get into" Cigar. WOW!!! What a horse!!!
jkmooreelle Says:
21/01/2010 5:26:05 AM
Whatever you think of Cigar, he is the fourth horse ever to go undefeated in the much more difficult handicap division while running a full schedule. The other three are Man O'War-1920, Tom Fool- 1953 and Spectacular Bid- 1980. That is pretty good company to be in.
terjer01 Says:
19/12/2009 6:54:48 AM
My favorite Durkin line in the race occurs near the one minute mark: "Cigar wants to go to the lead, but Jerry Bailey says 'NO!... Not yet!", just the way he said it was nothing short of epic
COAchilles Says:
18/11/2009 5:42:27 AM
People here also seem to forget towards the end of his streak he visited another continent. 5000mile journey is not something horse's do often and still win.
SugarTomAppleRoger Says:
23/10/2009 6:54:50 PM
I love this horse. Saw him run. He reminds me a lot of the Aussie horse Kingston Town, another champ.
Arps103 Says:
25/08/2009 10:24:04 PM
The camera work is great. NBC should still do the BC.
Earthamaster Says:
20/08/2009 7:38:00 AM
i love cigar first of all he is one of my favorites
cigar was not undeafeted he wasnt even a good horse till the streak began
but his heart was amazing
lengua92 Says:
22/07/2009 11:47:10 AM
The most impressive thing about his time being 1:59 50 is the fact that the first half mile was run in more than 48 seconds. He really had to pick up in the final 3/4 miles.
corneliagirl101 Says:
1/07/2009 7:28:34 AM
by the way that was a great end call . suits Cigar perfectly