Columnist Ralph Siraco: Tiznow moves on to greener pastures

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Nov. 19, 2001 | 10:41 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday, and his Southern California selections run on the Scoreboard page Tuesday-Friday. Reach him c/o Las Vegas Sun, 2275 Corporate Circle Drive, Suite 300, Henderson, NV 89074.

It was just a month ago that horse racing was treated to a vintage Breeders' Cup Classic. The 1 1/4-mile centerpiece race gathered the best thoroughbreds from around the world, competing for a $4 million purse.

Belmont Park in New York was the appropriate place at the appropriate time. The all-star cast included Europe's best in Galileo and Sahkee pitted against America's reigning Horse of the Year, Tiznow, and race favorite Aptitude.

Tiznow prevailed in a furious duel, repelling Sahkee by a head. In winning the Breeders' Cup Classic, Tiznow became the first horse in the event's 17-year history to win it more than once.

But before the replays were shown, before the champagne was done and before Tiznow was cooled out and dry, speculation had already begun about next year's Classic.

The owners of Sahkee said their horse was in. Michael Cooper, representing the ownership of Tiznow, announced that their repeat Horse Of The Year candidate would also return for a run at a Classic hat trick.

But now, Tiznow is gone from racing -- into breeding in Kentucky.

Although the price tag will be large, Cooper said money was not the primary reason for Tiznow's abrupt departure from the racing scene. Although Cooper called the decision "very difficult," he felt it was the right call.

The trials and tribulations of Tiznow's training while preparing for his Classic defense did not go unnoticed by his owners. And, after all the horse has come to mean to the owners and racing fans, Cooper felt it was time to send Tiznow to the breeding shed. The last thing Cooper wanted was Tiznow losing his luster, possibly hanging on too long, not to mention the possibility of getting injured on the race track.

The last chapter of Tiznow's racing career is still to be decided by Eclipse Award voters. Whether he can pull off another Horse Of The Year honor against front-runner Point Given will be debated in coming weeks.

There is no taking away his millennium miracle. Tiznow began his incredible march to last year's Horse Of The Year crown with a maiden victory on May 31, 2000. Less than 18 weeks later, the son of Cee's Tizzy had finished runner-up in the Grade I Swaps stakes at Hollywood Park and the Grade I Pacific Classic at Del Mar before earning back-to-back victories in the Grade I Super Derby at Louisiana Downs and the Grade II Goodwood stakes at Oak Tree.

He saved the best for the Grade I Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. Tiznow turned backed the best handicap field assembled and outdueled European Giant's Causeway by a neck while sewing up Horse Of The Year. The emotional timing of his greatest triumph came just days before his breeder and owner Cecilia Straub-Rubens died after a long illness. She had the chance to see her greatest production in his greatest hour. She took great joy and pride in watching her horses compete on the track. The fruits of her dedication were not only her reward, but, racing's as well.

Cooper, in concert with her heirs, kept Tiznow in training for this year's repeat performance as a tribute to Straub-Rubens.

Tiznow retires with a record of eight victories, four seconds and two thirds in 15 lifetime starts. His pair of Breeders' Cup Classic wins, in addition to this year's victory in the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap, produced the bulk of his $6,427,830 in career earnings.

Cooper put his decision in perspective when he said, "I had been on the fence, but once I went to Kentucky and saw the kind of life he'd lead, I became more convinced that this was the right thing to do."

Cooper wanted Tiznow to go out as a champion, and he said simply, "It was time to stop."

A Tiznow three-peat is not in the cards.

Sahkee anyone?