Kentucky Horse Park to Unveil Cigar Statue
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Cigar
The Kentucky Horse Park will unveil a memorial statue dedicated to the great Thoroughbred champion Cigar at 3 p.m. EDT Oct. 27.
Created by artist Douwe Blumberg, the statue will be placed at Cigar's gravesite at the Hall of Champions and features Cigar with jockey Jerry Bailey winning the 1995 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
One of the world's top Thoroughbred racehorses, Cigar died Oct. 7, 2014, at age 24. In May 1999, Cigar came to the Kentucky Horse Park to live out his retirement.
He was voted champion older male and Horse of the Year in both 1995 and 1996. In August 2002 he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
Blumberg is a Kentucky artist and former professional horse trainer. Originally from Los Angeles, he now resides north of Lexington. His works include New York City's new America's Response Monument and the Flight 5191 memorial in Lexington.
The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation was able to commission the statue because of donations from around the world. Additional contributions are being accepted to complete the Cigar Memorial. Contributions may be sent to the Cigar Memorial Fund at the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation.