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, will begin his stud career in 2002 at WinStar Farm near Versailles, Kentucky. The four-year-old California-bred son of Cee's Tizzy was officially retired on Friday, but details of future stallion career were not revealed until Sunday.In a joint venture, WinStar and Taylor Made Farm purchased an interest in Tiznow from Michael Cooper and Cee's Stable, who will retain an interest in the colt. Cee's Stable comprises Pamela Ziebarth and Kevin Cochrane, the children of Tiznow's breeder, Cecilia Straub-Rubens, who died three days after last year's Classic.

"I'm thrilled to death to still be a partner in this horse, joining this great team of WinStar Farm and Taylor Made Stallions," Cooper said. "With this deal, we are giving Tiznow every chance to succeed at stud like he did as a racehorse. There is something magical about Tiznow. I have learned to expect everything beyond belief with him."

Miami-based John Fulton, who trained for Straub-Rubens and her late husband, Bud, before turning his attention to bloodstock work, acted as agent for Cooper's group. Fulton said that although there was foreign interest in standing Tiznow, the partners preferred to keep him in the United States so they could be part of his stud career.

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, including the 2000 Classic at Churchill Downs and Super Derby (G1) at Louisiana Downs, and the 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 in 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.

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