May 2, 2013 - Cessna will honor the namesake of
their line of Citation business jets by
supporting customers flying into Louisville,
Ky., for this weekend's Kentucky Derby.
With more than 600 general aviation flights
expected to arrive in the Louisville area this
coming weekend, Cessna Aircraft company, will
welcome pilots and guests with onsite
"thoroughbred-inspired" Citation aircraft and
service solutions.
Cessna's line of business jets is named after
famed thoroughbred "Citation." In 1948, Citation
won the Kentucky Derby, finishing ahead of the
nearest competitor by three and a half lengths
at Churchill Downs.
Citation went on to win the Preakness Stakes and
the Belmont Stakes to win the Triple Crown in
1948. Citation was well known for the ease with
which he handled, with no complications or
handling difficulties.
Citation (April 11, 1945–August 8, 1970) was the
eighth American Triple Crown winner, and one of
three major North American Thoroughbreds (along
with Cigar and Zenyatta) to win at least 16
consecutive races in major stakes race
competition. He was the first horse in history
to win one million dollars. In 1959, Citation
was inducted into the National Museum of Racing
and Hall of Fame.
The memory of Citation was honored after his
death when Dwayne Wallace, Chairman of Cessna
Aircraft Company, selected the name Citation for
the new business jet Cessna was designing. Hints
of Citation's legacy can be found in the jet's
logo in the form of a horseshoe background. Even
today, pictures of Citation line the hallways of
Cessna's buildings. A famous statue of Citation
can be found at Hialeah Park. This statue is
shown in Godfather II as Michael Corleone
travels to Miami to visit Hyman Roth.
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