The Cigar Mile Handicap is a

Grade II In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...

American

thoroughbred horse race Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...

for horses aged three-years-old and older over a distance of one mile and is held in late November or early December at

Aqueduct Racetrack Aqueduct Racetrack is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and casino in the South Ozone Park, Queens, South Ozone Park and Jamaica, Queens, Jamaica neighborhoods of Queens, New York City, United States. Aqueduct is the only racetrack within ...

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, New York. The event carries a purse of $500,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event, then known as the NYRA Mile Handicap or simply the NYRA Mile, was won in 1988 by three-year-old Forty Niner, who would later become an influential sire. The race was eligible for graded stakes classification in 1990 and was awarded Grade I status by the American Graded Stakes Committee. The 1994 NYRA Mile was the second race in the 16-race win streak of

Cigar A cigar is a rolled bundle of dried and Fermentation, fermented tobacco leaves made to be Tobacco smoking, smoked. Cigars are produced in a variety of sizes and shapes. Since the 20th century, almost all cigars are made of three distinct comp ...

, who won by seven lengths. The event was renamed in 1997 following Cigar's retirement to the Cigar Mile Handicap. Horses who have won the Cigar Mile on their way to championship honors include 2006 winner Discreet Cat (named one of the year's champion three-year-olds in the

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), 2009 winner Kodiak Kowboy (winner of that year's

Eclipse Award The Eclipse Award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th-century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. An Eclipse Award Trophy is presented to the winner in each division. The trophy is made by a few small selected A ...

for Champion Sprinter), and 2019 victor Maximum Security (that year's Eclipse winner for Best Three-Year-Old Male). In 2023 the event was downgraded by the

Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) is an American trade organization for Thoroughbred racehorse owners and breeders, which is based in Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 1961, TOBA's stated mission is to "improve the economics, i ...

status.

Records

Speed record: * 1:32.46 – Discreet Cat (2006) Margins: * 7 lengths –

(1994) Most wins: * 2 – Congaree (2002, 2003) Most wins by a

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...

: * 5 – Jerry Bailey (1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003) * 5 – John R. Velazquez (2001, 2015, 2022, 2023, 2024) Most wins by a trainer: * 7 – Todd A. Pletcher (2001, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2021, 2022, 2024) Most wins by an owner: * 2 – Michael B. Tabor (2001, 2004) * 2 – Stonerside Stable (2002, 2003) *2 – Charles E. Fipke (2008, 2010)

Winners

''Notes:''
† In the 2006 running of the event Harlem Rocker was first past the post in a photo finish by a nose margin but was disqualified for interference in the straight and was placed second. Tale of Ekati was declared the official winner of the event.

External sites

Ten Things You Should Know About the Cigar Mile at Hello Race Fans!

References

{{Reflist, 2 Grade 1 stakes races in the United States Horse races in New York City Open mile category horse races Horse races established in 1988 Aqueduct Racetrack 1988 establishments in New York City

History

Records

Winners

See also

External sites

References