Horse owner considering cloning

Cigar a dud at stud

Web posted March 14, 1997

Associated Press

Allen Paulson, owner of Cigar, the richest winning racehorse ever, is considering cloning him after the stallion's proved to be a dud at stud.

``We're certainly looking into cloning,'' Paulsen said. ``... It might be an interesting experiment. ... If somebody who is qualified wants to come and get a patch off him, it would be all right. ... There's no life in his sperm at all. They've checked over 20 mares, and all of them are barren. It's a big shock.''

Cigar, two-time Horse of the Year, ended his racing career last year at 6 after winning almost $10 mil. His stud fee is $75,000 per. But there are cloning problems. For one, the Scot scientists who cloned that sheep aren't sure they can do a horse and said tries on cattle and pigs would probably be next. Also, the Jockey Club, which sets breeding rules, bars everything except ``natural service,'' including artifical insemination and embryo transfer.

Said Paulson: ``Even though we probably wouldn't be able to use (the clone) for racing, it might be interesting just to do it.''