Who Was Better, Secretariat? Man O'war? Cigar Ranks Among Them On Top 10 List

A year ago, trainer Woody Stephens observed that he'd seen horses who could beat Cigar.

"I don't say that anymore," he said. "Since he made that trip half-way around the world, that made me change my mind."

Tomorrow's try for a 17th straight victory has sparked energetic discussion in racing as to where Cigar fits in the sport's history.

Do 16 straight victories compensate for not competing in the Triple Crown at 3?

Does carrying 130 pounds (twice) in this era mean as much as the 135-plus imposts shouldered by Kelso, Forego and Tom Fool?

Because Cigar is winning so easily, does that attest to bottomless talent or inferior competition?

How much extra credit is afforded for traveling all over, including his historic victory in the Persian Gulf?

How much is deducted when two of his three U.S. races this year weren't graded?

Most racing participants interviewed say it is impossible to fairly compare horses of different generations. But most, including Stephens, also said they'd rank Cigar in North America's top 10.

"I've seen an awful lot of great horses through the years, but I'd certainly put Cigar up in the top 10," agreed Martha Gerry, owner of three-time Horse of the Year Forego.

"And if he goes on (unbeaten), certainly there's a good chance he'd be in the top five," said longtime racing journalist Whitney Tower, chairman of the National Museum of Racing.

Few would venture an opinion on who would be No. 1, noting the difficulty of comparisons amid changing racing surfaces, weight conditions, transportation, medication rules, competition and divergent size of foal crops.

"People ask me if I think Secretariat was better than Man o' War, but it's impossible to answer," said Penny Chenery, Secretariat's owner.

"Right now, Cigar is the best we've got, and he's wonderful. He isn't just following some easy course and being pretty. He has shown true determination and ability. He thrives on competition, and that's what heroes are made of."

Mary Jane Gallaher, a pioneer in women covering horse racing and whose family owned two Kentucky Derby runners-up, said Cigar "looks like he's the horse of the half-century to me.

"The opportunities weren't there (for earlier horses), but at the same time, Cigar has taken advantage of every opportunity and done it well."

Agreed Bill Shoemaker, racing's winningest jockey and now a trainer: "He's got to be one of the greatest who ever ran."

One thing that does set Cigar apart is that no other stud horse in modern times has had such a campaign past age 4, that being the province of geldings such as Kelso, Forego and John Henry.