Customer Reviews

Cigar: America's Horse (Revised)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are far too few biographies of thoroughbreds. (Man o' War's story has yet to be told in any comprehensive fashion!) So any fan o'the turf will want to pick up Hovdey's story of Cigar, a no-nonsense, straight-ahead documentation of the great Cigar's life, up to his defeat at Del Mar after sixteen straight wins.

And make no mistake, Cigar is one of the best. Like Secretariat, Cigar had the perfect racing mentality, and the size and conformation needed for success in this most grueling of sports. The book also introduces us to Allen Paulson, Cigar's owner, who I found as interesting as Cigar himself. We learn how Paulson came up in the depression, built Gulfstream jets, and became a billionare.

Hovdey's writing is clear as crystal, and the book's layout and presentation is easy on the eye. And for those doubters of Cigar, just let me know when another horse wins sixteen in a row in the open division.

Although it appears Hovedy did not put in the intense hours of research William Nack or Jane Schwartz completed in their respective biographies of the century's top race horses, the work is still an excellent chronicle of Cigar, the race horse and the immense pool of talent surrounding his incredible campaign. Where Nack and Schwartz offer a near-complete education of horseracing, Hovedy instead details the lives of the people behind the sport. Still, it's an easy, free-flowing read which seems to end too quickly.

I am happy to report that the writer for this book is in the same league as the horse he's writing about. The result? A thoroughly enjoyable story of how Cigar, the charismatic son of Palace Music and Solar Slew, carved a name for himself in racing history and in the process became the sweetheart of the sports world.

Author Jay Hovdey did his homework for the book, tracking down and interviewing all the major players in Cigar's life from the folks who foaled him to those who tended to his needs as he raced. He also took the time to get to know and probe beneath the surface of the public exteriors of the people who surrounded Cigar. This means that the reader has a feeling for how things unfolded behind the scenes as Hovdey relates Cigars meteroic rise to stardom. What makes it even sweeter is that Cigar was a late bloomer with delicate legs that resulted in all but one of his initial 11 races being run on grass. As it turns out, Cigar didn't like grass, and it wasn't until his bones had a chance to strengthen and someone in the stables lobbbied strongly for giving him a try on the dirt that Cigar came into his own. And what a show it was! Not only did he win 16 times in succession, equally Citation's record, but he beat out the best in international competition after being shipped to Arabia where he ran in unfamiliar surroundings on a less than ideal track.

If this book lacks anything, it's a personal connection with the horse by the author. Although Hovdey does a great job of relating what others have to say about Cigar, you never have the feeling that he himself has connected with the spirit of the colt. He talks about Cigar from a distance, removed by time and reporting from the immediate physical presence of the animal. Time and again you read that Cigar's exercise jockeys thought he was smart, how he loved peppermints, that his trainer always knew when he was in a playful mood, that he always carried himself with dignity, but in the end these are all second hand accounts. You never get the feeling that you are actually in the presence of Cigar, running your hand down the muscled neck, smelling his sweat as he cools out, seeinig his one, white-ringed eye roll in your direction as he listens to what you're saying, the feel of his lips as he plucks one of the peppermint candies he was so fond of from your hand, smelling that sweet mix of straw, manure, linament and sweat that is so much a part of all stables. Perhaps because I've spent time around horses I missed these very personal touches which would have brought the horse alive for me.

In the end this is a very competent, well-written book, but it lacks the spark that would have made it a 5-star recommendation for me.

I really enjoyed reading this book, although I feel that it doesn't really say all that much about the great big bay, it mainly talks about his owner, trainer, and jockey; although Cigar is also mentioned quite alot. In the middle of the book, it contains some wonderful photographs of Cigar and his connections.

I certainly enjoyed this book. It was well written, easy to understand, and had funny and enjoyable parts often. I don't think I sat down and didn't smile after ten minutes of reading. I loved the pictures, they were simply magnificent and portrayed the beauty, power, and grace of Cigar wonderfully. The writer really went into the emotions of the horse, not just the people associated with Cigar. The writer really told the story well, and I would read anymore of the books he wrote. I would definatly reccomend this to anyone, even if they don't know squat about horse racing, they would have a much better understanding of it after they read this book!

This horse was a wonder horse and clearly deserves to have his name mentioned alongside the great Citation. Citation may have won the triple crown, but Cigar conquered the breeder's cup and Dubai world cup, things Citaion never even got the chance to do. This horse was wonderful. The trainer conditioned him carefully and fully, the owner raced him heartily and responsibly, and the jockey rode him wonderfully. Truely one of the greats of our time. I would strongly reccomend this book.

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