Reigning Horse of the Year Tiznow, who became the first back-to-back winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) with a courageous nose victory over Sakhee on October 27 at Belmont Park, was officially retired on Friday morning.Co-owner Michael Cooper confirmed that the four-year-old California-bred son of Cee's Tizzy was retired but declined to comment on the colt's future stud plans. Cooper said Tiznow, who is still at Santa Anita Park with trainer Jay Robbins, would stand in Central Kentucky.

"He's going to stud, but other than that there's not much I can talk about yet," Cooper said. "There's still a few things left to do."

Out of the Seattle Song mare Cee's Song, Tiznow won eight of 15 career starts with four seconds and two thirds and earned $6,427,830. He won seven stakes events during his career, including the 2000 Classic at Churchill Downs and Super Derby (G1) at Louisiana Downs, and 2001 Santa Anita Handicap (G1).

Tiznow won five of nine starts during his three-year-old campaign, which ended with an Eclipse Award as champion three-year-old colt and Horse of the Year. His repeat win the Classic this year put him in the record books as the only horse to win the Classic twice and also makes him a candidate for another Horse of the Year title.

Cooper said the decision to retire Tiznow was difficult but hinged partly on future stud plans.

"That's part of it," Cooper said. "It was terribly tough. He's such a magnificent racehorse. We felt that he'd given us everything we could ask for on the racetrack and maybe it was time for him to have an easier life."

Speculation has surfaced around Central Kentucky about where Tiznow would begin his stud career since Cooper visited the area last week during the Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Rumors also have circulated that Tiznow would stand in Japan, speculation Cooper quashed on Friday as unfounded.

Tiznow has won three of six starts and earned $2,981,880 this year after missing a majority of the season with a string of physical ailments including a back problem that never was diagnosed.—Tom Law