Cigar thrilled fans on and off the track (Kentucky Horse Park/James Shambhu)

CIGAR, a two-time Horse of the Year and former leading money winner in North America whose 16-race win streak from 1994-96 captivated the racing world and attracted a mainstream audience to both he and the sport, has died at the age of 24.

Country Life Farm in Maryland, where Cigar was foaled on April 18, 1990, confirmed the death on their website Wednesday morning.

The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, where Cigar had resided in their "Hall of Champions" since 1999, stated in a release that Cigar died at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital from complications following surgery for severe osteoarthritis in his neck.

"Cigar had been experiencing arthritis-related health issues over the past six months and was in outstanding physical and mental condition other than the osteoarthritis he was suffering from in several of his cervical vertebrae," said Kathy Hopkins, director of equine operations for the Kentucky Horse Park. "Medical therapies had failed to relieve the pressure that the arthritis was causing on his spine, which had resulted in instability in his hind legs.

"The Kentucky Horse Park was committed to providing him with the highest level of care possible. We are heartbroken to lose this great horse, especially as we were trying to do everything we could to improve his quality of life and make him more sound and comfortable."

Cigar with trainer Bill Mott (Horsephotos.com)

"Cigar developed a compression of his spinal cord in the lower part of his neck," Dr. Reed said. "The most severe compression was between cervical vertebra 6 and 7, with additional compression between cervical vertebra 5 and 6. This was an acquired problem related to arthritis, and bony remodeling in the neck. The severity of this spinal cord compression became so problematic that all parties were left with few options, the best one being surgery. This was a significant surgery involving a prolonged recovery. Unfortunately, during recovery Cigar suffered a vertebral fracture and passed away."

Bred and campaigned by the late Allen Paulson, and reared by the Seattle Slew mare Solar Slew, Cigar was originally trained by Alex Hassinger and based in Southern California. Despite winning on dirt at Hollywood Park in his second start, in May of his three-year-old season, logic dictated that the son of Palace Music, a Grade/Group 1 winner in England and the U.S. as well as a Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up, would pursue a career on turf.

Cigar eventually won one of his seven grass starts for Hassinger and placed in a pair of Grade 3 events: the Ascot Handicap at Bay Meadows and Volante Handicap at Santa Anita.

At four, Cigar was relocated to the barn of future Hall of Famer Bill Mott in New York. After placing just twice in four turf attempts, Mott made what would ultimately be considered a historic decision to return Cigar to the main track. On October 28, 1994 at Aqueduct, in a one-mile allowance, Cigar cruised by eight lengths and a winning streak that would enthrall the sporting world was born.

Cigar concluded 1994 with another emphatic victory over the Big A's one-turn mile, taking the NYRA Mile (later renamed in honor of Cigar) by seven lengths. Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey was aboard Cigar that afternoon, and the pair would never again be separated on the racetrack.

Cigar's 1995 BC Classic victory produced one of the most iconic race calls today (Horsephotos.com)

Virtually assured of an older male and Horse of the Year title by late October, Cigar's main focus now was attempting to become the first horse since Spectacular Bid in 1980 to win the latter championship having gone through an undefeated season. On a cold, blustery day at Belmont Park, Cigar warmed the hearts of a disappointingly low crowd with a 2 1/2-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic, his 10th victory of the season and his fourth over 1 1/4 miles.

Perhaps most remembered about that Breeders' Cup Classic was the recently-retired announcer Tom Durkin's pronouncement as Cigar crossed the wire: "And here he is: The unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable Cigar!"

Cigar's title defense in 1996 kicked off with a second victory in the Donn Handicap, under 128 pounds. His next start occurred in the inaugural running of the Dubai World Cup, then worth $4 million and contested at Nad al Sheba. Overcoming a trip half way across the world, the desert heat, and a deep, tiring surface, Cigar turned in perhaps his most courageous effort by repelling American rival Soul of the Matter by a half-length in a time of 2:03 4/5.

Given adequate time to recuperate, Cigar returned to action to take the Massachusetts Handicap for a second time, under 130 pounds. By this point, with 15 wins in a row, Cigar was clearly a hot commodity, and racetracks across the country were doing everything possible to entice Team Cigar to bring the great horse to their track to race.

Cigar was a favorite at the Kentucky Horse Park, where he will be buried alongside fellow Hall of Famers (Horsephotos.com)

Unfortunately for the large audience, both on and off track, Cigar's streak ended in the 1 1/4-mile race. Tracking much closer to the pace than usual through very fast splits of :45 4/5, 1:09 1/5, and 1:33 3/5, Cigar had little left to withstand the Richard Mandella-trained Dare and Go, who opened up in the stretch to win by 3 1/2 lengths while an obviously tired Cigar trudged home second, seven lengths ahead of third-place Siphon.

Cigar got back on the winning track a month later in the Woodward at Belmont, taking that nine-furlong test for a second year in a row by four lengths. However, the champion concluded his career with two more losses, albeit narrow ones.

In the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Cigar just failed to catch eventual three-year-old champion and future Hall of Famer Skip Away by a head. Three weeks later, in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Woodbine, Cigar again couldn't muster a winning rally after making a five-wide bid, but only fell a neck short of the California-based Alphabet Soup, with Preakness winner Louis Quatorze finishing in between them.

Despite setbacks in three of his final four outings, Cigar was again voted champion older male and Horse of the Year in 1996. During the course of the season, Cigar surpassed Alysheba as North America's all-time leading money winner, and at year's end his career ledger stood at 33-19-4-5, $9,999,815. The earnings mark stood until 2008 when Curlin cracked the $10 million barrier.

Cigar proved infertile soon after entering stud and was pensioned at the Kentucky Horse Park. He will be buried alongside fellow Hall of Famers Forego, John Henry, and Alysheba at the Park's Memorial Walk of Champions.

"Cigar was an incredible horse who left an everlasting mark on the racing world," said Ted Nicholson, interim executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park. "We are honored that Cigar was able to spend so many years of his life here at the park where he was visited by so many fans and will always be remembered."