@winningstride: 🏆 ECLIPSE AWARDS SERIES: CHAPTER 26 – 1996 CIGAR | HORSE OF THE YEAR & CHAMPION OLDER MALE 16 consecutive victories. A historic triumph in Dubai. And a legendary winning streak that finally came to an end. After an undefeated 1995 campaign, Cigar returned in 1996 with the racing world watching his every move. Could he equal Citation’s legendary record of 16 consecutive victories? Trained by William I. Mott and ridden by Jerry Bailey, Cigar opened the season by winning the Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park. He then traveled overseas to capture the inaugural Dubai World Cup, defeating Soul of the Matter in a thrilling stretch battle. Back in the United States, Cigar won the Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs, earning an extraordinary 133 Equibase Speed Figure. That victory extended his winning streak to 15. One more victory would equal Citation’s famous record. On July 13, 1996, Arlington International Racecourse hosted the Arlington Citation Challenge, a special race created around Cigar’s pursuit of history. Carrying 130 pounds and racing wide, Cigar delivered another unforgettable performance. He won by 3½ lengths, earning a 130 Equibase Speed Figure. 16 CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES! Cigar had equaled Citation’s legendary streak. But history took an unexpected turn on August 10 at Del Mar, when 39-1 longshot Dare and Go defeated Cigar in the Pacific Classic. His winning streak was over. Cigar responded by winning the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park before finishing second to Skip Away in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and third behind Alphabet Soup in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He completed 1996 with 5 wins from 8 starts and $4,910,000 in earnings. For the second consecutive year, Cigar was named both Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male, earning four Eclipse Awards across two extraordinary seasons. He retired with 19 victories from 33 starts and $9,999,815 in career earnings, a North American record at the time. The winning streak ended in 1996. But the legend of Cigar would endure for generations. 🎥 Featured Race: 1996 Arlington Citation Challenge Every Stride Tells a Story. #WinningStride #Cigar #EclipseAwards #HorseRacing #ThoroughbredRacing

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Tuesday 13 October 2026 19:05:26 GMT