Cigar memorialized at Kentucky Horse Park

Lanter's comments were laced with gratitude.

"Of course the fans, thank you for all the flowers and cards. Racing fans are

special. Mostly though, we thank Cigar...for showing us class and greatness

embodied in a magnificent Thoroughbred."

"It is our honor and privilege to have known you and for a short time to have

walked in your light," Lanter said.

Retired Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron spoke with his characteristic

humor. Alluding to the fact that he guided Cigar in two races during his

sophomore season at Del Mar -- when he was racing on turf for original trainer

Alex Hassinger Jr. -- McCarron offered a memorable line.

"Rode Cigar when he was still a cigarette," the fellow Hall of Famer quipped.

Cigar would only reach the peak of his powers as an older horse, after new

trainer Bill Mott switched him to the dirt. The rest was literally history, as

Cigar compiled a 16-race winning streak including such lucrative events as the

1995 Breeders' Cup Classic and the inaugural Dubai World Cup in 1996. He retired

with a mark of 33-19-4-5 and a then-North American record $9,999,815 in

earnings.

The epitaph on Cigar's tombstone -- "unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable"

-- enshrines the words of longtime track announcer Tom Durkin, who called

Cigar's Classic victory that crowned a perfect 10-for-10 season. That phrase is

often cited as one of the recently-retired Durkin's most memorable race calls.

Engraved on the minds of fans ever since, it is now chiseled in stone.