The Breeders’ Cup Classic has seen 41 victors since its establishment in 1984.
Yet, there is only one Tiznow.
Considering the remarkable horses that have participated in this esteemed Grade 1 stakes – celebrated names such as Cigar, American Pharoah, Alysheba, and Curlin – Tiznow remains unique in possessing the exceptional qualities of class, resilience, and sustained excellence required to secure two victories in this race.
In 2000, as a 3-year-old, and again in 2001, the California-bred reached his peak condition, delivering performances of sufficient caliber to overcome the finest horses globally.
Indeed, from around the globe, because both of Tiznow’s Breeders’ Cup triumphs involved overtaking rivals from Europe. In his second victory, Tiznow demonstrated extraordinary determination, prevailing over none other than Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe champion Sakhee in the 2001 event held at a charged Belmont Park, merely two months following the September 11th terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
Attendees of that event experienced an unforgettable day of racing, marked by a performance that has yet to be equaled.
“In all honesty, after Sakhee surged past me with such force, I believed I was competing for second place,” admitted jockey Chris McCarron, who guided Tiznow to victory in both Breeders’ Cup races. “However, Tiznow displayed superior grit and determination.”
Much like many champions before him, Tiznow’s initial race was unremarkable.
Tiznow, a homebred son of Cee’s Tizzy, was trained by Jay Robbins and owned by his breeder, Cecilia Straub-Rubens, along with Mike Cooper, under the Cees Stable banner. He concluded his debut race at Santa Anita Park on April 22, 2000, in a modest sixth place, with odds of 13.80-1.
He subsequently improved to second place before achieving a breakthrough victory in his third attempt, winning by an impressive 8 ½ lengths at the now-defunct Hollywood Park.
This commanding maiden victory inspired Robbins to enter Tiznow in the Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap on July 1, a decision that proved successful with a narrow victory over the favored Dixie Union.
The next logical step was the Grade 1 Swaps Stakes on July 23, also at Hollywood Park, where Tiznow finished second to Captain Steve.
Robbins continued to increase the challenges for Tiznow, choosing to have the California-bred compete against older horses in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Again, Tiznow delivered an outstanding performance, finishing second to Skimming by two lengths.
Reverting to competition against his fellow 3-year-olds, Tiznow participated in the Grade 1 Super Derby, securing a six-length victory. Two weeks later, he returned to compete in the Grade 2 Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap, where he defeated Captain Steve by a half-length, establishing himself as a leading contender for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
As the racing world focused on Churchill Downs for the Breeders’ Cup, Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus remained the top-rated 3-year-old and was the 6-5 favorite, despite having raced only once since the Preakness in May.
Although Fusaichi Pegasus had his finest moment six months earlier at Churchill Downs, Tiznow was in excellent form, and the anticipated showdown between the two 3-year-olds proved to be one-sided.
While Fusaichi Pegasus failed to make an impact, finishing sixth, and 1999 Classic winner Cat Thief faded to seventh in his attempt to repeat his victory, the $4 million stakes race transformed into a stretch duel between Tiznow and Europe’s Giant’s Causeway, owned by Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier.
After contesting the early lead with Albert the Great, Tiznow, the California-bred, shook off his rival and prepared for a strong stretch challenge from Giant’s Causeway.
The European challenger caught Tiznow at the eighth pole, and for the duration of that final furlong, the two raced neck and neck, vying for the lead. But when McCarron needed it most, Tiznow summoned extra effort and prevented Giant’s Causeway from passing, winning by a neck at odds of 9.20-1.
Tiznow’s heroic performance earned him Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male honors, but sadly, Straub-Rubens did not witness this moment, as she passed away two days after the Breeders’ Cup.
Returning to racing as a four-year-old, Tiznow struggled with a back injury for much of the year.
He secured two victories in five starts leading up to the Breeders’ Cup, commencing 2001 with a win in the Grade 2 San Fernando Breeders’ Cup Stakes but then finished second in the Grade 2 Strub Stakes at Santa Anita. A victory in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap appeared to put him back on track, but he was sidelined for six months.
His comeback race was the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park, a sort of rehearsal for the Breeders’ Cup. Tiznow showed signs of rust, finishing third behind Lido Palace and Albert the Great, and then finished third again, behind the 39-1 longshot Freedom Crest and Skimming, in the Goodwood during his final preparation for the Breeders’ Cup.
Tiznow’s training for the Breeders’ Cup was certainly eventful. In one of his final workouts, he refused to start running for 30 minutes. However, when finally persuaded to run, he completed a mile in a remarkable 1:35 3/5.
The setting for the 2001 Breeders’ Cup at Belmont Park on October 27 was unique in the series’ history. The nation was still grappling with the devastating destruction of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers, a tragedy visible from Belmont Park’s roof. New York experienced a blend of tension, fear, anger, and resilience as the city united to rebuild, move forward, and ensure the event would never be forgotten.
Three days prior, President George W. Bush famously threw the first pitch at Game 3 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, and Belmont Park opened its doors for the Breeders’ Cup under heavy security. Outside the track, SWAT team members and bomb-sniffing dogs were present. Marksmen, soldiers, and police equipped with assault rifles were stationed just below the track’s long roof at the pressbox level.
Despite concerns about holding the event in New York at that particular time, they proved unfounded. The event proceeded smoothly and provided a therapeutic outlet for the local community.
The racing was of the highest quality, and it was a successful day for the European contingent, with Banks Hill winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, Johannesburg triumphing in the Juvenile, and Fantastic Light prevailing in the Turf.
However, the best was reserved for the final and most anticipated Breeders’ Cup race.
The surprise entries were two European horses, Godolphin’s Sakhee and Tabor and Magnier’s Galileo. Sakhee, the Arc winner, appeared a logical choice for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but trainer Saeed bin Suroor instead adopted a strategy similar to Giant’s Causeway, attempting to defeat America’s best horses on their preferred surface, dirt.
Rumors circulated that Sakhee was not comfortable with the unfamiliar surface, but this proved to be merely speculation.
This time, Tiznow settled into third position early as Orientate and Albert the Great established the initial pace. At the top of the stretch, Sakhee overtook Tiznow from the outside, and the 2000 Classic winner appeared defeated while contending between Sakhee and Albert the Great. Then, in one of the most memorable stretch battles in Breeders’ Cup history, Tiznow found renewed energy and surged to a narrow lead at the sixteenth pole, holding off Sakhee for the remainder of the race, winning by a narrow, yet courageous, nose.
In his final race, the California-bred delivered an outstanding performance that ranks among the greatest in Breeders’ Cup history.
Finally, there was a consecutive winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and that distinction remains unique.
Only one horse has accomplished this, and that is Tiznow.
Note: This story was initially published in November 2018 and has since been updated.
FUN FACTS
- Tiznow participated in 15 races, achieving victory in eight, securing four second-place finishes, and finishing third twice, accumulating earnings of $6,427,830.
- He held the title of leading earner among California-breds until California Chrome surpassed him.
- Tiznow was honored as the champion older male of 2001.
- Late in the 2001 National Football League season, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick presented his team with a video of Tiznow’s triumph in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Classic following a defeat. The team then proceeded to win every subsequent game, ultimately claiming victory in the Super Bowl against the St. Louis Rams.
