Cross Breeds - Who was tha greatest race horse? CIGAR BY FAR!?

Who was tha greatest race horse? CIGAR BY FAR!?

And not Because he was more recent. Talk to any Horseman worth their salt. Sure there are other greats and Im sure more popular ones, but Cigar would Mow them all down! To: "Hmm. Why are you asking this question if you've already decided on an answer? Is there a point here?" Because STUPID Yahoo has the other question Locked that was posed after one day and I am permitted to express my opinion. Thanks Diamond I "you need to do some more research on Thoroughbred racing history" No I think you do. i know my history well. Go back and look at the stats and the distance in which he won by. Who do you think I am, a kid? Again, just because a horse has been Glorified for years and is more popular, doesnt make him the better Horse. Again, ask real horseplayers that have been around the game for 30-50 years playing and you will find the Answer is undoubtedly Cigar. This has nothing to do with knowing history, it spunds more like it does in your case though because you've been bombarded with Stories of Greatness as has everyone else and cant help but think Secretariat and such are better than Cigar. Its not your fault that you dont know any better. Well I have done the Sheets for every great horse & no one ran negative numbers(Lower # the better,0= Great! Minus is better) be as much or consistantly as Cigar. The whole reason I did them was because talking to real horseplayers that have been around way longer than I, the consensus was clearly Cigar. My Favorite Horse is Dr Fager which is what brought about these conversations in the first place. From pure racing stats, I have to agree with them that Cigar was the best ever. Those of you that don't know of the sheets will poo poo it & even some of you that do but dont believe in their formula will as well but they are clearly the best barometer for ability & performance ever produced. The Beyer figures have some flaws even though widely used. Its not terrible, but it is flawed as I started out using beyer many moons ago & the Sheets (Ragozin) are the best tool by far. It's Cigar for me But Dr Fager is still my Fav.The question wasnt your Favorite & I think some of you got confused.

Public Comments

Hmm. Why are you asking this question if you've already decided on an answer? Is there a point here?
Secretariat and Foolish Pleasure
SECRETARIAT HANDS DOWN
Cigar was a good one, no doubt....BUT I doubt he could MOW DOWN any of the following: Seabisuit, Citation, Kelso, Forego, Dr. Fager, Alydar, Affirmed, Secretariat, Ruffian,....you need to do some more research on Thoroughbred racing history.....
Sentimental Favorite: Afleet Alex. What a horse. Should have been the last TC winner. He got trapped in the KD and couldn't make it out of the last turn going to the stretch in time and lost by a length. Practically knocked to the ground in the Preakness by Scrappy T and blasted the final 3/16 for a 1:55 finish by 4 and 3/4. I didn't get to see his Belmont win but he won it handily over Giacomo (who I named my tortoise after...lol...seriously). He is one of the best finishing horses there has ever been and I'm sure he'll sire some super colts. Afleet Alex, my pick for greatest horse of all time!
MAKYBE DIVA,a great recent Aussie mare,3 consecutive Melbourne cups(a feat never achieved in over 100 years of the races history) ,Australian cup,Sydney cup,the turnbull stakes,and the cox plate (which is one of the great weight for age races in the world),the werribee cup, 2nd in the Caulfield cup by a whisker,plus many other group 1 wins in between,and arguably greater than the Aussie icon PHAR LAP.
Secretariat, by far. But if you've already made your decision, why do our opinions matter?
Man 'O' War
Secretariat hands down.
1) Man O' War 1a) Secretariat I would like to include Ruffian but she broke down before she could prove she was one of the best ever. Cigar was very good, but didn't run in the Triple Crown so I can't put him up there (although he did win 16 races in row)
Red Rum. He had an incurable disease in his front feet and still managed to win 3 Grand Nationals and come 2nd twice and a Scottish National. This isn't like some flat horse running over meager distances - we are talking over 4 miles with approx 30 fences with an average height of 5 foot. Most horses don't even make it round once let alone win 3 times.It should also be mentioned that he managed his impressive wins prior to the safety modifications being made to Aintree. Cigar has nothing on Red Rum.
Cigar was a great horse and often won his races carrying alot more weight than the competetion. that being said i dont think he was better than Secretariat. and remember were comparing three year old Secretariat to five and six year old Cigar. but id still take Secretariat. he broke records without even feeling the whip most times.
Talk to the trainers and the jocks, that are still with us. Not cant, Cigar Great, no doubt. Not cant, bloodhorse.com did their poll, Secretariat and Man O' War first and second. Defer to them and put Cigar in perspective, He was great, but not the greatest. Only two dueling for that Crown.
I'd have to say Secretariat or Ruffian. Cigar was a great horse, but I'd have to see him do a mile and a half in 2:24 to say that he could stand a chance to "mow Secretariat down". And Ruffian....wow...what a filly. Even Secretariat's trainer was quoted to say that he thought she might be greater than Secretariat. Or how about Personal Ensign? She retired undefeated.....Cigar was defeated. Not taking anything away from Cigar....but to me.....he wasn't the greatest.
True Cigar was a great race horse, but there are so many greats it is difficult to pick just one. We all have our favorite for one reason or another, whether it is a colt, gelding, filly. To name a few : Carbine_ Phar Lap _ Go for Wand _ Ruffian_ John Henry_Lava Man_Man of War_Barbaro_ really the list can go on and on, they are all wonderful and grreat race horses.