Tiznow (USA)
March 12, 1997 – Living
Cee's Tizzy (USA) x Cee's Song (USA), by Seattle Song (USA)
Family 26
March 12, 1997 – Living
Cee's Tizzy (USA) x Cee's Song (USA), by Seattle Song (USA)
Family 26
Tiznow was unraced at 2 due to a leg fracture. At 3, he came on in the second half of his 3-year-old season to win the Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1) in a tremendous duel with 2000 European Horse of the Year Giant's Causeway. His 4-year-old season was hampered by a back injury, but he regained his form in time to win a second Breeders' Cup Classic, snatching victory from Sakhee after being passed in the stretch. He remains the only horse to have won the Breeders' Cup Classic twice.
Race record
15 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$6,427,830
2000:
2001:
Honors
Assessments
Co-highweighted at 127 pounds on the 2000 International Classification in the Intermediate category, tied with Fusaichi Pegasus and Giant's Causeway in that category and 5 pounds below the top-rated 3-year-old, Sinndar, who earned his assignment in the Long category.
Rated at 133 pounds by Timeform at 3, 1 pound below the top 3-year-old, Sinndar.
Rated at 128 pounds on the 2001 International Classifications, 5 pounds below overall highweight Sakhee but tops among older males on dirt.
As an individual
Tiznow stands 17 hands and is rather angular but generally correct. He is registered as a dark bay or brown. At his best, he was an extremely game and determined competitor. He was strong-willed and difficult at the track but sociable and much more relaxed in the barn.
As a stallion
Tiznow's progeny have typically needed some time to mature and most are best at a mile or more. As of March 10, 2024, he has sired 85 stakes winners according to The Jockey Club's records.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Notable progeny
Bear Now (USA), Bullsbay (USA), Colonel John (USA), Da' Tara (USA), Folklore (USA), Gemologist (USA), Igor (MEX), Morning Line (USA), Mr. Hot Stuff (USA), My Sweet Addiction (USA), Sporting Chance (USA), Strong Mandate (USA), Tiz Miz Sue (USA), Tizway (USA), Tough Tiz's Sis (USA), Tourist (USA), Well Armed (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Come Dancing (USA), Early Voting (USA), Played Hard (USA), Tiz the Law (USA), True Timber (USA), Vespaciano (ARG)
Connections
Tiznow was bred and owned by Cecelia Straub-Rubens. He was trained by Jay Robbins. He stood in Kentucky at WinStar Farm, where he entered stud in 2002. He was pensioned in October 2020 due to declining fertility.
Pedigree notes
Tiznow is inbred 4x4 to Northern Dancer. He is a full brother to Grade 1-placed multiple Grade 2 winner Budroyale, Grade 2 winner Tizdubai (dam of 2016 Bahrainian champion 3-year-old male Madinat Jumeirah, by Bernardini, and second dam of Grade 2 winner Tarifa and Grade 3 winner Cabo Spirit), and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Tizbud. He is also a full brother to Tizamazing, dam of 2013 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Oxbow and Grade 3-placed stakes winner Awesome Patriot (both by Awesome Again), and to Tizso, dam of 2012 Haskell Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Paynter (by Awesome Again), Grade 3 winner Tiz West (by Gone West) and listed stakes winner Tizakitty (by Distinctive Cat). In addition, Tiznow is a full brother to Balboa Betty, second dam of of Grade 3 winner Bettys Bambino, and to Tizsweet, third dam of 2024 B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sweet Azteca. Finally, Tiznow is a half brother to You're Beautiful (by Storm Cat), second dam of Grade 3 winner Lady Mystify.
Tiznow's dam Cee's Song is a half sister to the minor stakes winners Ceetoit (by Cee's Tizzy) and Leery Baba (by Well Decorated; second dam of Grade 3 winner Bridge Game). She is out of Lonely Dancer (by Nice Dancer), a full sister to stakes winner Mr. Kapacity and a half sister to Canadian Grade 2 winner Quantra (by Quadrangle). The next dam in the tail-female lineage is Sleep Lonely (by the top handicap horse Pia Star), whose dam Sulenan (by 1960 Travers Stakes winner Tompion) is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Swinging Lizzie (by The Axe II), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Swing Till Dawn (by Grey Dawn II) and 1988 Swaps Stakes (USA-G1) winner Lively One (by Halo). Another half sister to Sulenan, Snow Bower (by Nearctic), is the second dam of 1989 English champion 2-year-old male Digression.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photograph taken by Jessica Morgan in 2007 in the WinStar Farm stallion barn. Used by permission.
Last updated: August 21, 2024
Race record
15 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$6,427,830
2000:
- Won Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Super Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Louisiana Downs; new track record 1:59.84)
- Won Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Affirmed Handicap (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
- 2nd Swaps Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
2001:
- Won Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- Won San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Strub Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Woodward Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2009)
- Arcadia Historical Society's Racing Walk of Champions (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2014)
- Eclipse Award, American Horse of the Year (2000)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (2000)
- Eclipse Award, American champion older male (2001)
- California-bred Horse of the Year (2000, 2001)
- California-bred champion 3-year-old male (2000)
- California-bred champion older male (2001)
Assessments
Co-highweighted at 127 pounds on the 2000 International Classification in the Intermediate category, tied with Fusaichi Pegasus and Giant's Causeway in that category and 5 pounds below the top-rated 3-year-old, Sinndar, who earned his assignment in the Long category.
Rated at 133 pounds by Timeform at 3, 1 pound below the top 3-year-old, Sinndar.
Rated at 128 pounds on the 2001 International Classifications, 5 pounds below overall highweight Sakhee but tops among older males on dirt.
As an individual
Tiznow stands 17 hands and is rather angular but generally correct. He is registered as a dark bay or brown. At his best, he was an extremely game and determined competitor. He was strong-willed and difficult at the track but sociable and much more relaxed in the barn.
As a stallion
Tiznow's progeny have typically needed some time to mature and most are best at a mile or more. As of March 10, 2024, he has sired 85 stakes winners according to The Jockey Club's records.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 2008.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 2005
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 10th on the North American general sire list in 2014.
- 8th on the North American broodmare sire list in 2019; 9th in 2023.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 2008; 4th in 2009.
- Led the American freshman sire list in 2005.
Notable progeny
Bear Now (USA), Bullsbay (USA), Colonel John (USA), Da' Tara (USA), Folklore (USA), Gemologist (USA), Igor (MEX), Morning Line (USA), Mr. Hot Stuff (USA), My Sweet Addiction (USA), Sporting Chance (USA), Strong Mandate (USA), Tiz Miz Sue (USA), Tizway (USA), Tough Tiz's Sis (USA), Tourist (USA), Well Armed (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Come Dancing (USA), Early Voting (USA), Played Hard (USA), Tiz the Law (USA), True Timber (USA), Vespaciano (ARG)
Connections
Tiznow was bred and owned by Cecelia Straub-Rubens. He was trained by Jay Robbins. He stood in Kentucky at WinStar Farm, where he entered stud in 2002. He was pensioned in October 2020 due to declining fertility.
Pedigree notes
Tiznow is inbred 4x4 to Northern Dancer. He is a full brother to Grade 1-placed multiple Grade 2 winner Budroyale, Grade 2 winner Tizdubai (dam of 2016 Bahrainian champion 3-year-old male Madinat Jumeirah, by Bernardini, and second dam of Grade 2 winner Tarifa and Grade 3 winner Cabo Spirit), and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Tizbud. He is also a full brother to Tizamazing, dam of 2013 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Oxbow and Grade 3-placed stakes winner Awesome Patriot (both by Awesome Again), and to Tizso, dam of 2012 Haskell Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Paynter (by Awesome Again), Grade 3 winner Tiz West (by Gone West) and listed stakes winner Tizakitty (by Distinctive Cat). In addition, Tiznow is a full brother to Balboa Betty, second dam of of Grade 3 winner Bettys Bambino, and to Tizsweet, third dam of 2024 B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sweet Azteca. Finally, Tiznow is a half brother to You're Beautiful (by Storm Cat), second dam of Grade 3 winner Lady Mystify.
Tiznow's dam Cee's Song is a half sister to the minor stakes winners Ceetoit (by Cee's Tizzy) and Leery Baba (by Well Decorated; second dam of Grade 3 winner Bridge Game). She is out of Lonely Dancer (by Nice Dancer), a full sister to stakes winner Mr. Kapacity and a half sister to Canadian Grade 2 winner Quantra (by Quadrangle). The next dam in the tail-female lineage is Sleep Lonely (by the top handicap horse Pia Star), whose dam Sulenan (by 1960 Travers Stakes winner Tompion) is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Swinging Lizzie (by The Axe II), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Swing Till Dawn (by Grey Dawn II) and 1988 Swaps Stakes (USA-G1) winner Lively One (by Halo). Another half sister to Sulenan, Snow Bower (by Nearctic), is the second dam of 1989 English champion 2-year-old male Digression.
Fun facts
- Tiznow is the first California-bred to have been voted American Horse of the Year honors since Swaps in 1956.
- At the time of his retirement, Tiznow was the all-time leading money-winner among California-breds.
- Tiznow's dramatic win in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Classic was voted as the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's "Moment of the Year." In 2001, Tiznow once again starred in the NTRA "Moment of the Year" thanks to his second Breeders' Cup Classic win.
- After he moved into the WinStar stallion barn, Tiznow was given an opening in the upper half of his stall door to accommodate his sociable nature, allowing him to see what people were doing in the barn. The horse quickly proved quite smart as well as sociable, unlatching his door to let himself out into the main hall of the barn. The latch was promptly moved out of his reach.
- New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick used the film of Tiznow's comeback victory in the 2001 Breeders' Cup Classic to inspire his team, then struggling with a 3-4 record. The Patriots won 11 of their next 12 games and defeated the St. Louis Rams in the 2002 Super Bowl.
Photo credit
Photograph taken by Jessica Morgan in 2007 in the WinStar Farm stallion barn. Used by permission.
Last updated: August 21, 2024