Cigar, 2-time Horse of the Year, dies

Cigar, the two-time Horse of the Year whose 16-race winning streak was among the top feats in racing history, has died. He was 24.

A release from Kentucky Horse Park said that Cigar died Tuesday night at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital from complications following surgery for severe osteoarthritis in his neck.

Cigar, who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2002, won 19-of-33 career starts and established an earnings record of $9,999,815.

The horse, however, best known for his incredible run of wins that tied Citation.

An allowance victory at Aqueduct in October 1994 began Cigar's famed run that included 1995 wins in the Breeders' Cup Classic and Hollywood Gold Cup. He was Horse of the Year in 1995 and 1996.

Cigar, the son of Palace Music and Solar Slew, was owned by the late Allen Paulson and his wife, Madeleine, and trained by Bill Mott.

The horse had lived at Kentucky Horse Park after he retired in 1999.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.