CIGAR'S RUN PUTS SPORT OUT FRONT.

Byline: Randy Galloway The Dallas Morning News

This is what a hero is supposed to be. This is true greatness. This is a champion's champion, so talented and so popular he's become a nationwide savior for his sport.

And boy, what a role model.

Home every night at sundown, and up early every morning, ready for work. He's kind, considerate, always has time for his fans, and enjoys the media, particularly the photographers.

In his sport, the phrase ``loves to have his picture taken'' is the ultimate compliment. It means he's a winner. But when the cameras also show up at his house, he never minds posing, even when he's eating dinner.

This guy has no rap sheet at the police department, never backtalks his coaches, refuses to hire an agent, and doesn't mess around with the girls. It's a well known fact he's one stud who is saving himself for later.

There's a standing offer of $30 million from the Japanese if he wants to take his talent over there, but being an American hero, that's not a consideration.

This is one face that belongs on a Wheaties box. And if all goes well here Saturday, maybe President Clinton will invite him over for a well-deserved White House visit.

With the multitude of image problems in the sports world of today, one question begs for an answer:

Why can't they all be like Cigar?

This, friends, is a horse. A horse who goes far beyond the standard four legs and a tail.

In the Pacific Classic here at beautiful Del Mar, Cigar will have the opportunity to out-Secretariat Secretariat in making a contribution to his sport, and to all the people and the animals involved in his sport. The big red thing became a horse for the ages with what he accomplished in 1973, but Secretariat was running in a different era. An era when horse racing was basically void of gaming competition outside of Las Vegas.

The wagering world has changed. Horse racing is no longer at a crisis point - in fact, an upswing has now occurred - but Cigar has definitely been a horse from heaven for the industry.

Sixteen straight wins dating from October '94. One more on Saturday and it's a world record.

What Cigar's streak has done is attract not only the hardcore fan, and the casual bettor, but, more important, the rank novice to tracks around the country. Wherever Cigar runs, record crowds show up, and Del Mar will be no different. Plus, many millions more will watch Saturday on TV, or at other tracks around the country.

With new fans come new questions, questions that may seem foolish to the old horse heads. But it's the best sign of all for horse racing when a novice cares enough to ask something like:

If Cigar is so good, why didn't he win the Kentucky Derby?

To most of America, horse racing comes down to just that - the Kentucky Derby. But the Derby is basically never a barometer for the best horse, just the best three-year-old on one weekend in May.

In Europe, we are criticized for making young horses run so much, so hard, so early. Three-year-old horses can be compared to the 12- and 13-year-olds in women's Olympic gymnastics. There's a heavy toll to pay for pushing the young beyond a reasonable barrier.

Race horses reach a maturity age at five, and are peaking there and at age six. Cigar is now six.