Tour of the Cat, who competed in the 2004 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.1), earned recognition from the New York Racing Association on Wednesday when he was the subject of a special release to news media.

NYRA called attention the fact that the now 11-year-old gelding won a race at Aqueduct on January 18, an unusual accomplishment for a horse his age on a major racing circuit.

The victory is more evidence disproving a myth that has been circulated by some members of the American media that horses that travel to the Middle East to race often don’t perform much longer afterward. Tour of the Cat has notched half of his 20 career victories in the time after he returned to the United States from Dubai even though he was already six years old when he raced in the Golden Shaheen.

Now trained by David Jacobson for Jacobson Racing Stable, Tour of the Cat has won ten stakes over the span of his career, including three graded events in 2003, and has placed in 15 more stakes. Overall, he has won or placed in 45 of 75 career starts and has earned US$1,094,558.

American-based horses finished 1-2 in the 2004 Dubai Golden Shaheen, with Our New Recruit winning the race and Alke second. Tour of the Cat wound up eighth after not being able to produce a strong closing kick.

Picture: Tour of the Cat at Aqueduct on January 18. Photo courtesy of Adam Coglianese/NYRA