Cigar, 1990-2014
 

Waking up to Internet rumours that Cigar has passed. Anyone hear anything from an official source? :(

Damn it! I hope not... I LOVE Cigar! He was my ultimate favorite horse. I see a couple people mentioning it as well so it looks like the official word will come soon :(

Nothing "official", but it's all over the net so I guess it's true. RIP pretty boy :(

David Grening ‏@DRFGrening · 2m2 minutes ago
Bill Mott via text confirmed that Cigar has died. Sad. Tremendous horse.

Thanks for the memories big fella, Rest in Peace.

one of my all time favorites. Sad.


http://www.paulickreport.com/news/bl...ar-dead-at-24/

:(

"I came to love horses when I got on Cigar. He was the most genuine, charismatic horse I think I've ever been on in my life." - Jerry Bailey

Cigar: A true american racehorse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygB0iZQJIvo

Great race horse and connections, traveled the country, did not duck competition. legendary horse.

Saw him race in person several times, at GP and two BCs, as well as that Pacific Classic. Met him close up at KHP as well. A true champion.

One of my all time favorites, saw his Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic, a real star personality, even have a painting and his Breyer. I'm really bummed about this :(

didn't realize he was 24...time flies.

He was the best and made me a fan for life:)
RIP

What a horse! One of few greats that I actually got to "meet," thanks to KHP. RIP big boy.

Cigar
 

RIP big guy. So glad I got to meet and pet him last fall at the KHP. A true champion.:{>:

Haskin's piece on Cigar's Madison Square Garden farewell is a treat to read:

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse...r-stories.aspx

I can't help but feel as if I'm in an alternate dimension today. I can't help but believe that Cigar was larger than life, that he wasn't supposed to leave us.

He was everything to me in 1995, when I was 14/15 years old. 1994 was a gut-wrenching year for me. But then along came this impossibly handsome bay horse with white markings and one eye ringed in white. His name was Cigar and he swept me off my feet--here was my salvation!

I had loved horse racing before Cigar but he was the first living legend, the first in-the-flesh champion that captured my heart.

As he passed the day fierce storms ripped through Kentucky and a blood moon lunar eclipse hung in the night sky, Cigar demonstrated that he had drama and style to the end. Run free, big guy--thanks for the memories.

A piece form HRTV

http://www.hrtv.com/videos/cigar-1990---2014/

Great article as usual from Steve Haskin.

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse...-to-cigar.aspx

Cigar
 

Does anyone have a link to video of Cigar's retirement ceremony at Madison Square Garden?

One of my most memorable in-person races. The Citation Challenge. Can't believe the full field and the sires that came out of it.

Thanks for the Memories RIP!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOe08kQN8rE