Athletes amaze fans with remarkable feats beyond imagination, which is a huge part of the allure of sports. Thoroughbred racehorses remind us frequently that on any given day you never know what you might witness at the racetrack.
When a jockey wins two races in a single afternoon, he’s enjoyed a successful day. Three wins signifies a banner afternoon and four is bound to generate buzz among racing fans and horseplayers.
But how about seven wins in a single day? Only on the rarest of occasions will a jockey embark on such a memorable win streak. During the first 69 years of racing at Del Mar in California, no jockey managed to win more than six races on a single card.
“Unbeatable” is how many people viewed and described the great Cigar. By the time the seemingly invincible 6-year-old arrived at Del Mar to race in the 1996 Grade 1 Pacific Classic, he had traveled the country – even the world – while winning an incredible 16 consecutive races.
The Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic will be run for the 36th time on Saturday. First contested in 1991, the signature race at Del Mar has successfully stood the test of time as one of America’s premier races. Held each summer at one of the most idyllic settings in racing, the 1 1/4-affair has been an important fixture on the nation’s calendar since its inception.
