Cigar's Greatness Was Made in the Barn, Not Just Born

A new appreciation of Cigar places the credit for his championship years where the backside has always known it belongs, with the trainer who shaped him. The piece frames his story as the clearest American example of conditioning turning a capable racehorse into an incomparable one. For readers who follow the sales ring and the shedrow as closely as the finish line, it is a reminder that a horseman's patience and judgment are as much a part of a champion as pedigree.

With reporting from America's Best Racing.