GIVE THAT HORSE OF THE YEAR A CIGAR.Byline: Associated Press Cigar, who won all 10 of his starts and earned a record $4.8 million in 1995, won the Horse of the Year award Friday in a near-unanimous vote. Cigar received 304 of 306 votes in balloting by three organizations - the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, the National Turf Writers Association The National Turf Writers Association (NTWA) is an American association of journalists, columnists and other writers involved with reporting on the horse racing industry. The organization was founded by prominent sports writer Joe Hirsch who served as its first president. and Daily Racing Form The Daily Racing Form, LLC (DRF) is a broadsheet newspaper founded in 1894 in Chicago, Illinois by Frank Brunell. The paper publishes the past performances of race horses as a statistical service for bettors on horse racing in the United States. . The winner was announced at the annual Eclipse Awards. Winners in all other Eclipse categories were announced last month. Cigar's perfect 1995 season included victories in nine stakes at six tracks. He completed his sensational year by winning the 1-1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade 1 Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 years old and older run at a distance of 1ΒΌ miles (2012 m) on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup. in a record 1:59 2-5 over a muddy track. Cigar will make his 1996 debut today in the $300,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park. The 6-year-old will be seeking his 13th consecutive victory, three shy of the record held by 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation. "If he's like he was last year, they're not going to beat him," said Jerry Bailey, Cigar's jockey since the streak began. "I don't think there will ever be another one like him, at least for me to ride." Cigar fell two votes short of becoming only the second unanimous selection as Horse of the Year. John Henry did it in 1981. San Vincente field: Trainer D. Wayne Lukas Darrell Wayne Lukas (born September 2, 1935 in Antigo, Wisconsin) is a former educator who became one of the most successful horse trainers in American Thoroughbred horse racing history and a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee. , seeking a record sixth straight Triple Crown triumph in the May 4 Kentucky Derby, will send one of his leading 3-year-olds, Honour And Glory, against five rivals in today's $100,000 San Vicente Stakes The San Vicente Stakes is a race for thoroughbred horses run at Santa Anita Park each year. The race is open to horses, age three, willing to race seven furlongs on the dirt and carries a purse of $150,000. The great racing filly, Busher, won this race against males in 1945. at Santa Anita Park Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, USA. It is known for offering some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the autumn and in winter. Racing at Santa Anita began in 1934. . After a disappointing fourth-place finish when favored in last October's Breeders' Cup Juvenile The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup. , Honour And Glory bounced back with an impressive two- length victory in the Jan. 18 San Miguel Stakes The San Miguel Stakes is a race for thoroughbred horses held at Santa Anita Park, located in Arcadia, California. The race is held near the beginning of January each year. The race is open to three year olds willing to sprint six furlongs on the dirt and carries a purse of $75,000. at Santa Anita. He negotiated the six-furlong distance in a rapid 1:08 4/5. Gary Stevens again will ride owner Michael Tabor's bay son of Relaunch in the Grade III event contested at seven furlongs. Honour And Glory, who has won three of his five career starts and $294,102, will carry high weight of 123 pounds and break from the No. 2 post. Afleetaffair, second to Honour And Glory in the San Miguel, drew post No. 5 and will carry 116 pounds and jockey Corey Nakatani. The Halo Farms' colt, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, has won three of his five starts while finishing second in the other pair. Odin's Primo, who faded to fifth in the San Miguel as the 2-1 second choice, reportedly bled in the race after winning his two previous outings. He will be treated with anti-bleeding medication in the San Vicente. The chestnut gelding is weighted at 116. He will break from post No. 4 and be ridden by Alex Solis. The complete field, in post position order, for the San Vicente: Slews Royal Son (Paul Toscano) 113; Honour And Glory (Gary Stevens) 123; Great Treasure (Chris Antley) 113; Odin's Primo (Alex Solis) 116; Afleetaffair (Corey Nakatani) 116, and Ready To Order (Corey Black) 120. |
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