Cigar was the first horse to win the Dubai World Cup, taking the inaugural running in 1996.
The first Dubai World Cup was held at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse on 27 March 1996. Cigar, an American champion trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Jerry Bailey, won the race for owner Allen Paulson.
Cigar entered the race after a celebrated American career that included 16 consecutive victories. His Dubai success added an international title to a record that had already made him one of the leading racehorses of the 1990s.
The Dubai World Cup later moved to Meydan Racecourse in 2010. It became the centerpiece of the Dubai World Cup meeting and one of the richest events in global horse racing.