American superstar Cigar has died

American superstar Cigar, winner of the inaugural running of the Dubai World Cup in 1996, died on Tuesday evening following complications after surgery

The 24-year-old, trained in his glory days by Bill Mott and owned and bred by Allen Paulson, was operated on at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital as he was suffering from severe osteoarthritis in his neck.

Foaled at Country Life Farm near Bel Air, Maryland, the son of Palace Music was trained by Alex Hassinger jnr in the formative stages of his career and spent his later years as a star attraction of Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

After the World Cup, Cigar extended his run to 16 straight wins, equalling Citation and narrowly failing to set a new mark of 17 when second to Richard Mandella's Dare And Go at Del Mar in the Pacific Classic.

He was named American Horse of the Year in 1995 and 1996 before being inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Retired with great fanfare after finishing third in the 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic - a race he had claimed 12 months earlier - he was to prove infertile at stud.

Cigar's career finished with a total of 19 wins from 33 starts with earnings of $9,999,815, a record at that time.

"Cigar had been experiencing arthritis-related health issues over the past six months and was in outstanding physical and mental condition other than the osteoarthritis he was suffering from in several of his cervical vertebrae," said the park's director of equine operations Kathy Hopkins in a statement on its website.

"Medical therapies had failed to relieve the pressure that the arthritis was causing on his spine, which had resulted in instability in his hind legs.

"The Kentucky Horse Park was committed to providing him with the highest level of care possible.

"We are heartbroken to lose this great horse, especially as we were trying to do everything we could to improve his quality of life and make him more sound and comfortable.

"Our park family is immensely grateful to Dr. Reed and the outstanding medical teams at Rood and Riddle and Hagyard Equine for their ultimate dedication to and concern for this unmatched champion."

The Governor of Kentucky, Steve Beshear, said: "The great champion Cigar thrilled racing fans and surely brought new ones to the sport as he compiled win after win in his incredible streak of victories.

"An example of racing at its best, he continued to serve as an ambassador, bringing joy to countless visitors to the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park, where he will be missed."

Cigar will be buried on the Memorial Walk of Champions near Alysheba, Bold Forbes, Forego, John Henry and Kona Gold, and a public memorial service is likely to be held for him.

In the World Cup, a six-year-old Cigar produced a performance of real guts at Nad Al Sheba to beat the Mandella-trained Soul Of The Matter, announcing himself on to the world stage by overcoming training problems and the effects of a long flight.

His regular rider Jerry Bailey said afterwards: "This was not his best performance but it was his best effort considering what he has had to overcome.

"We went eyeball to eyeball with Soul Of The Matter.

"I was a bit worried but in the end he could have gone around another time and he would not have beaten me."

Mott said at the time: "That is the most he has ever been challenged in the stretch. I often wondered what would happen when another horse looked him in the eye.

"He showed the courage that it takes to become a true champion. He has overcome a lot and this proves how really good he is. He proved what can be done even after travelling halfway round the world."

The previous November, Cigar had thrashed British hope Halling at the Breeders' Cup, where Tom Durkin, the doyen of American race commentators, uttered the iconic line as the post loomed: "and here he is...the unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable Cigar!"