| Funny Cide | |
|---|---|
Funny Cide at Saratoga, September 1, 2006 |
|
| Sire | Distorted Humor |
| Grandsire | Forty Niner |
| Dam | Belle's Good Cide |
| Damsire | Slewacide |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 2000 |
| Country | USA  |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Breeder | WinStar Farm |
| Owner | Sackatoga Stable |
| Trainer | Barclay Tagg |
| Record | 38:11-6-8 |
| Earnings | $3,529,412 |
| Major Racing Wins, Awards and Honours | |
| Major Racing Wins | |
| Bertram F. Bongard Stakes (2002) Sleepy Hollow Stakes (2002) American Classic Race wins: |
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| Racing Awards | |
| New York Breeders' Award for Champion Two-Year-Old (2002) U.S. Champion 3-Year-Old Male (2003) Champion New York Horse of the Year (2003 & 2004) Presidents' Award for becoming the first New York-bred to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the first gelding since 1929. The Wadsworth Memorial Handicap is a Thoroughbred race for three year olds and up of either gender set at a distance of one and one eighth miles on the dirt The American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred Horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred Flat racing. NTRA "Moment of the Year" (2003) |
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| Honours | |
| Funny Cide Street in Napa, California Funny Cide written and performed by Blue Hand Luke. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association Moment of the Year award begun in 1999 celebrates or honors one moment that occurred during a given year that most exemplifies |
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| Infobox last updated on: December 9, 2007. Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. | |
Funny Cide (b. April 20, 2000) is a Thoroughbred race horse who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2003. The Thoroughbred is a horse breed This article is about the sport For other uses see Horserace (drinking game or Horse race (politics. He is the first New York-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby and the first gelding to win it since 1929 (when Clyde van Dusen took home the roses). New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three year-old thoroughbred horses held annually in Louisville Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May A gelding is a castrated animal &mdash in English the term specifically refers to a castrated male Horse or other Equine such as a Donkey
Contents |
Early years
Bred at Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, he was foaled at the McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbred Farm, owned by Joe and Anne McMahon in the upstate New York town of Saratoga Springs. Kenny A Troutt (born 1948) was the founder of Excel Communications, a Texas based Telecommunications company that used MLM (Multi-Level WinStar Farm is an American Thoroughbred Horse breeding and racing farm near Versailles Kentucky. Versailles is a city in Woodford County, Kentucky, United States and is a suburb of Lexington. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Saratoga Springs is a City in Saratoga County, New York, USA. By Distorted Humor (a Mr. Prospector line sire), he is out of the winning, but short-lived, Belle's Good Cide by Slewacide by Seattle Slew. Distorted Humor (foaled 1993 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and a successful Sire. Mr Prospector (1970–1999 was a Thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have come to dominate the United States Belle's Good Cide (born 1993 - died March 8 2003 was an Oklahoma -bred Thoroughbred racing mare Seattle Slew ( February 15, 1974 &ndash May 7, 2002) was an American Thoroughbred race Horse who won the
Funny Cide was a member of one of Distorted Humor's first American crops when his stud fee was $10,000. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the (Distorted Humor's fee for the year 2008 is now $300,000 for a live foal. )
Twelve days premature and arriving around 10:30 pm, he was the third foal born in the McMahon barn. Anne McMahon said, "We see so many foals now, it's hard to remember them all. But I remember Funny Cide. He came out proud. He arched his neck as soon as he could stand. "
Funny Cide was originally purchased in August of 2001 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga preferred yearling auction in Saratoga Springs for $22,000 by Tony Everard. The Fasig-Tipton Company Inc is an Auction house for Thoroughbred horses founded in 1898 by William B A yearling is a young Horse of either sex that is between one and two years old With the average sale of a yearling running about $43,000, Everard saw the colt as a bargain, a horse he could train at his New Episode Training Center in Ocala, Florida, for a fast financial turnaround. Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida, United States. As of 2007 the population recorded by the U As Everard said, "He was a little bit on the immature side but he had a good frame and a big, deep girth. He was also a ridgling (meaning one testicle had not descended), and they usually sell cheaper. A ridgling or rig is a Male animal with an undescended Testicle. " From the start, Everard and his wife, Elizabeth — it was she who took Funny Cide under her wing — saw something special in the horse. So soon as he was gelded ("Best," said Everard, "to do this early. The undescended testicle hurts them, and they don't learn as they should. "), Funny Cide's ability quickly progressed.
Sackatoga Stable
| Quotation |
| "Funny Cide has the heart of a champion. This horse is all heart. " (from 'Starter Analysis') |
| Steve Fugitte |
Sackatoga Stable (the name is a blend of Sackets Harbor and Saratoga) all started one night when Jack Knowlton suggested to his high school friends that they buy a horse. Sackets Harbor is a Village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. When Sackatoga Stable, concentrating on New York breds, asked the trainer Barclay Tagg to "find them a good horse," Tagg recommended Funny Cide. Barclay Tagg (born December 30, 1937 in Lancaster Pennsylvania) is an American Thoroughbred Horse trainer. He'd seen him snapped up by Everard at the 2001 sales and he too recognized his potential. Tagg had wanted to buy him from Everard before, but he couldn't find a client who would meet Everard's price: at the time, $50,000. But the Sackatoga Stable consortium was flush with money after their mare, Bail Money, was claimed for $62,500 at Gulfstream Park. A consortium is an association of two or more individuals companies organizations or governments (or any combination of these entities with the objective of participating Track attributes The current dirt course is one and one-eighth miles in circumference with a one-mile backstretch chute Tagg purchased the gelding for $75,000 in a private transaction in March of 2002. A gelding is a castrated animal &mdash in English the term specifically refers to a castrated male Horse or other Equine such as a Donkey
Conceived in Kentucky, born in New York, taken as yearling to Florida for training, and then beginning his racing career at the Belmont Park race track in New York, it's the village of Sackets Harbor, New York, pop: 1200 (from which most of his owners hail) that bills itself as the popular gelding's "hometown. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the History and Information It is world-famous as the home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. "
Barclay Tagg finds his "Big Horse"
Once a steeplechase jockey, Funny Cide's trainer Barclay Tagg, who grew up in Abington, Pennsylvania, and won his first race in 1972 at old Liberty Bell Park, is a journeyman who'd been laboring in the racing scene for over thirty years. Ki Longfellow (born as Pamela Longfellow) is an American Novelist and Playwright. The steeplechase is a form of Horse racing (primarily conducted in the United Kingdom, United States, France, and Ireland) and derives In Sport, a jockey is one who rides Horses in Horse racing or steeplechase racing primarily as a profession Abington Township may refer to several places in the United States Abington Township Lackawanna County Pennsylvania Abington Township Montgomery A journeyman is a trader or crafter who has completed an Apprenticeship. The victory by Funny Cide made Tagg the first trainer to win the Derby in his first attempt since Cam Gambolati saddled Spend A Buck to win the 1985 Derby. Spend A Buck (born 1982 in western Kentucky, died November 24, 2002 in Brazil) was an American Thoroughbred
Ray Paulick of Blood-Horse said of Barclay Tagg, "He has some characteristics uncannily like hall-of-famer "Silent" Tom Smith, the trainer of Seabiscuit. The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred He takes care of his horse, doesn't rush into anything or run him when he shouldn't. I like that about Tagg. Like Tom Smith, he's his own man and will put the horse first. I wish we had more trainers out there like him. "
Early races
The chestnut gelding trained by Barclay Tagg and ridden by jockey Jose Santos, made his two-year-old racing debut at Belmont Park on September 8, 2002. A gelding is a castrated animal &mdash in English the term specifically refers to a castrated male Horse or other Equine such as a Donkey History and Information It is world-famous as the home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. Running away from the New York field, and under a hand drive, he easily won the six furlong race by fifteen or more lengths. A furlong is a measure of Distance in Imperial units and US customary units. It was then that Tagg knew he had something more than just a "nice horse" to keep his consortium of owners happy running in New York allowance races. Twenty-one days later, Funny won his first seven furlong restricted stakes race, the 25th running of the Bertram F. Bongard Stakes, under another hand drive, and by a similar margin. The Bertram F Bongard Stakes is an ungraded stakes race for Thoroughbred two-year-olds run in the fall at Belmont Park, New York. In the Bongard, his Beyer Speed Figure[1] was 103. The Beyer Speed Figure is a system for rating the performance of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America designed in the early 1970s by Andrew Beyer No two year old in the country had run faster.
His third winning effort as a two-year old was his first try at a mile, the restricted Sleepy Hollow Stakes, also at Belmont Park. The Sleepy Hollow is an ungraded restricted stakes race for two-year-olds held in the fall at Belmont Park, New York. History and Information It is world-famous as the home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. Under a very hard hold by Santos, he was, for the first time, challenged for the lead (by Spite the Devil), but proved he could not only be rated (held back in a certain position waiting for the best time and place to make a move), but easily had enough grit to hold off such challenges. It also proved he could handle longer distances.
By October of 2002, Funny's jockey, Jose Santos, believed this horse would be his "Derby horse. " Even so, Funny Cide was overlooked by both press and handicappers in that year's crop of up-and-coming Derby colts and fillies. There was considerably more press coverage of Empire Maker, as well as his stablemate, Peace Rules, both horses trained by Robert J. Frankel. Empire Maker (foaled April 27 2000 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Peace Rules (born and bred at Newchance Farm on April 26 2000 is a multiple Grade I winning American Thoroughbred Race horse. Robert "Bobby" J Frankel (born July 9, 1941 in Brooklyn New York) is an American Thoroughbred Race horse
The trainers raced Funny Cide only three times as a two-year-old.
At three, Funny Cide ran in the one and one-sixteenth mile long Grade III Holy Bull Stakes. A graded stakes race is a term applied by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Thoroughbred horse race in The Holy Bull Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach Florida. Breaking from post position 13, he hit the gate, then raced wide for the entire trip. He came in 5th in a field of strong horses, including Offlee Wild. Offlee Wild (foaled April 5 2000 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. In the Grade II Louisiana Derby, he faced Peace Rules, Kafwain and Badge of Silver. The Louisiana Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. Peace Rules (born and bred at Newchance Farm on April 26 2000 is a multiple Grade I winning American Thoroughbred Race horse. Staying close to the pace, he rallied in the stretch, dropped back, and then came again along the rail. Finishing third after Peace Rules, he was bumped up to second at the disqualification of Kafwain. But it was his strong second place showing against Empire Maker (ridden by Jerry Bailey) in the one and one eighth mile Grade I Wood Memorial on April 12, that clinched his entry into the Kentucky Derby. Empire Maker (foaled April 27 2000 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Jerry D Bailey (born August 29, 1957 in Dallas Texas) is a retired American Hall of Fame Jockey. A graded stakes race is a term applied by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Thoroughbred horse race in The Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica New York is an American horse race first run in 1925. The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three year-old thoroughbred horses held annually in Louisville Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May Funny Cide lost the Wood by a short neck and was pressing Empire Maker at the wire, even after New York Hero early on bore out very wide, taking the gelding with him and losing him his early momentum. Even so, Funny earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 110 for the Wood. The Beyer Speed Figure is a system for rating the performance of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America designed in the early 1970s by Andrew Beyer
2003 Kentucky Derby
Ignored by virtually everyone,[2] Funny Cide, the narrow New-York bred longshot gelding won the 2003 Kentucky Derby running between the strong double entry of Frankel's Empire Maker (again with Jerry Bailey in the saddle) and Peace Rules ridden by Edgar Prado but neither of them could catch him. Empire Maker (foaled April 27 2000 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Jerry D Bailey (born August 29, 1957 in Dallas Texas) is a retired American Hall of Fame Jockey. Peace Rules (born and bred at Newchance Farm on April 26 2000 is a multiple Grade I winning American Thoroughbred Race horse. Edgar S Prado (born June 12, 1967 in Lima, Peru) is a US Racing Hall of Fame Jockey in Thoroughbred He won the Derby by 1 3/4 lengths over the favorite Empire Maker, paying $27. 60 for every 1 dollar bet to win, in front of a crowd of 148,530 in the stands.
2:01. 19, Funny Cide's time, is the 10th fastest time in the history of the Kentucky Derby.
2003 Preakness Stakes
Blood-Horse magazine's Steven Haskin wrote: "Pimlico stakes coordinator David Rollinson had to go out and recruit Preakness Stakes horses when it looked like only six or seven were going to run. The Blood-Horse is an international weekly News Magazine about Thoroughbred horses Horse breeding, and Horseracing. Physical attributes The track has a one-mile dirt oval and a seven Furlong turf oval The Preakness Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race 1-3/16 mile (1 All was calm that first week after the Derby. Then, Empire Maker was officially declared out, leaving only six confirmed starters. Empire Maker (foaled April 27 2000 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Then Midway Road came in. Then all hell broke loose when the Miami Herald’s bogus story and photo of Santos cheating in the Derby appeared. The Miami Herald is a daily Newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company headquartered in Downtown Miami Florida. Empire Maker suddenly jumped back in, his Triple Crown hopes alive once again. Hours later, when the inferno began to subside, he was back out. Then Peace Rules officially came in. Peace Rules (born and bred at Newchance Farm on April 26 2000 is a multiple Grade I winning American Thoroughbred Race horse. Sometime, in between all that, Champali jumped back in after being in, then out. Then Kissin Saint and Alysweep came in. Then Indian Express came out. Then Rollinson popped a couple of Advil and braced for week two. " Week two was like week one, now also including the in and outs and ins of New York Hero, Ten Cents A Shine, Foufa’s Warrior, and During. As Haskin goes on to say, all this confusion could have been avoided if all involved had known how Funny Cide was going to run in the Preakness.
Vanned in at the last moment by Tagg (who before this had only watched the race from the rooftop of the Pimlico Barns) and stabled in Mary Eppler's barn on the backside of the track to keep him calm and out from under the press, this time Funny Cide was the bettor's favorite. On a cold wet day in May, he burst from post position 9 (only Layminister in 1910 and Canonero II in 1971 won from 9), the runaway winner of the 2003 Preakness Stakes at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course. Canonero II ( 1968 - 1981) (in Spanish Cañonero II) was a Venezuelan champion Thoroughbred race horse. Physical attributes The track has a one-mile dirt oval and a seven Furlong turf oval His time was 1:55:61, and he took the race by 9 3/4 lengths, the second largest margin in Preakness history. In the Pimlico Preakness, with its sharp turns and hard fast track, Funny earned a remarkable Beyer Speed Figure of 114. The Beyer Speed Figure is a system for rating the performance of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America designed in the early 1970s by Andrew Beyer As Funny was the only New York bred to have ever won the Kentucky Derby, he was only the third New York bred to win the Preakness. The other two were Margrave in 1896 when the Preakness was run at Gravesend Race Track on Coney Island, New York, and Jacobus in 1883. Margrave (marchio is the English and French form (recorded since 1551 of the German Title Markgraf (from Mark " Gravesend Race Track at Gravesend on Coney Island, New York was a Thoroughbred horse racing facility built in 1887 by the Brooklyn Jockey Club Coney Island is a Peninsula, formerly an island in southernmost Brooklyn, New York City, USA with a Beach on the Atlantic Ocean New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous A Jacobus is an English Gold coin of the reign of James I, worth 25 Shillings.
Now Funny Cide, the narrow New York bred gelding, was in the running for the Triple Crown. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous
2003 Belmont Stakes
Four days before the Belmont Stakes, in what was meant to be only a breeze, Funny Cide took control from Tagg's excercise rider/girlfriend Robin Smullen, and ran perhaps too hard and too fast. The Belmont Stakes is a prestigious American Grade I stakes race held yearly in June at Belmont Park in Elmont New York. Rumors began to spread that he might have ruined his chances for the third leg of the Triple Crown. It rained all day before the Belmont Stakes, the most grueling of the three races and a quarter mile longer than the Kentucky Derby. Rain or no rain, New Yorkers came to the track in record numbers, only to see Jose Santos ride Funny too close to the rail where the slop was deepest (called a "dead rail"), as well as fighting too hard to rate him. Funny Cide finished third in the slop behind a fresh Empire Maker and a fresh Ten Most Wanted, both horses having skipped the Preakness Stakes. Empire Maker (foaled April 27 2000 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Frankel expressed himself a happy man to have spoiled such an exciting run by such an exciting horse. "It may be mean," he said, "but I'm glad I did it. "
As a side note, Tagg got a measure of revenge later that year, when his horse, Island Fashion, won the Alabama Stakes. The Alabama Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies. Her victory denied a $2 million Triple Tiara bonus to the owners of Spoken Fur, which was trained by Frankel. The Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, formerly known as the Filly Triple Crown is a set of horse races in the United States which is open to three year old fillies
Immediately after the race Tagg said Funny Cide hadn't taken to the track. An odd comment, considering Belmont was Funny Cide's home track and he trained over it almost ever day, rain or shine.
In an article published in March of 2007, one read: Looking back, Tagg wonders if Funny Cide's 9 3/4-length victory in the Preakness and his overly fast workout the week before the Belmont weren't the results of an on-edge horse who had little left for the final leg of the Triple Crown. Tag was quoted as saying, "He didn't need to have his adrenaline popping through his head every time a bunch of people came running down the aisle way. " That same year dual classic winner Funny Cide, once again up against Frankel and Empire Maker, won the Eclipse Award for 3 Year Old Male of the Year. The Eclipse Award is an American Thoroughbred Horse racing award named after the 18th century British Racehorse The American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred Horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred Flat racing. He's only the second New York bred to ever do so, the first being Saratoga Dew, who was named Champion 3 Year Old Filly of 1992.
Troubled years
Horses don't reach their full height and weight until they are five. At four, Funny Cide flashed his old form in the Massachusetts Handicap on July 3, 2004, earning a 110 Beyer Speed Figure. The Massachusetts Handicap, frequently referred to as the "MassCap " is a Thoroughbred horse race held at Suffolk Downs in Boston, Massachusetts The Beyer Speed Figure is a system for rating the performance of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America designed in the early 1970s by Andrew Beyer The finish was a thrilling three way photo at the wire between runner-up Funny Cide, the eventual winner Offlee Wild, and The Lady's Groom. Offlee Wild (foaled April 5 2000 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He beat Evening Attire in a final stretch duel in the 2004 Excelsior Breeders’ Cup Handicap, and was then beaten by Evening Attire in the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap. Evening Attire is a Kentucky bred Thoroughbred racehorse foaled on Valentine's Day, February 14 1998 though most of his racing career has taken place The Excelsior Handicap is a venerable American Thoroughbred Horse race run at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens New York during the Spring The Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicap was until it was discontinued in 2005 a Thoroughbred race for horses three-years-old and up run at Saratoga He nearly won the Grade 1 Suburban Handicap. The Suburban Handicap is an American Grade I stakes race for Thoroughbred Race horses aged three and older run at the classic one-and-one-quarter But the highlight of his troubled four-year-old season was winning the October 2, 2004 86th running of the very prestigious and very grueling one and one quarter mile million-dollar Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park against the likes of the very honest campaigner Evening Attire and very promising young colt, The Cliff's Edge. The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919 is a prestigious Thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up History and Information It is world-famous as the home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. In the Gold Cup, he earned a 112 Beyer. Other than Real Quiet in 1999, for years no other horse who has won a classic in his third year has gone on to take another Grade 1 race—except Funny Cide. Real Quiet (born March 7, 1995 at Little Hill Farm in Ocala Florida) is an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse
Funny Cide's four year old season was fraught with respiratory problems, probably exacerbated by sending him to California's 2003 Breeders' Cup Classic race. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade 1 Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for 3 years old and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles (2012 m on dirt (It's been mentioned that entering him was very much not Tagg's idea. ) The race was being held at the Santa Anita track that year when a major forest fire raged nearby, darkening the air around the track with hot soot. History Santa Anita Park was opened on December 25 1934 and is the oldest racetrack in Southern California During his five-year-old season he was plagued with back problems, not diagnosed until he'd raced out of the money in several graded races. (It's possible his back was injured in the Belmont where he ran in deep mud on a "dead rail" struggling with his jockey who held too hard a rein. ) Tagg decided to rest Funny Cide for the last half of the season.
Back on the track
On February 2, 2006, Funny came alive in a one-mile money allowance race at Gulfstream Park to beat the odds on favorite, Sun King, winner of the Pennsylvania Derby and the Tampa Bay Derby, third in the 2005 Jockey Club Gold Cup, and a surging second — by the bobbing of a nose — to Invasor in the Whitney Stakes of 2006. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide Sport and Industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred Horses It is governed by different national Track attributes The current dirt course is one and one-eighth miles in circumference with a one-mile backstretch chute Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent The Pennsylvania Derby is a race for Thoroughbred horses run at Philadelphia Park Racetrack each year The Tampa Bay Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held in mid March at Tampa Bay Downs. The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919 is a prestigious Thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up Invasor (foaled August 3, 2002 is a Thoroughbred Racehorse bred in Argentina by Haras Clausan The Whitney Handicap (often referred to as the "Whitney Stakes" is an American Grade 1 handicap race for Thoroughbred Racehorses three The stakes-winning sprinter, Sir Greeley, took the race in a quick 1:32. 42, but Funny was up there with him to place. His jockey, the top 10 New York Racing Association rider, Edgar Prado said, "He broke sharp and was right with those horses from the go. The New York Racing Association is the non-profit management group that runs the three largest Thoroughbred Horse-racing tracks in the state of New Edgar S Prado (born June 12, 1967 in Lima, Peru) is a US Racing Hall of Fame Jockey in Thoroughbred He never gave up. I was very happy with his race. "
On April 1, 2006, Funny Cide flashed his old form, running a gritty game second in his second Excelsior Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Aqueduct. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Excelsior Handicap is a venerable American Thoroughbred Horse race run at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens New York during the Spring History The racetrack opened in 1894 and was rebuilt in 1959 the 1959 design was by noted racetrack architect Arthur Froehlich of the architecture firm Arthur Froehlich "He ran a fantastic race," top jockey Richard Migliore said of Funny Cide. Richard Migliore (born March 14, 1964 in Babylon New York) is an American Jockey whose mounts have ranged from Fourstardave "Blood and guts all the way to the wire. He's a fantastic racehorse. I wasn't looking for the lead, but my horse was keen and I didn't want to get into a fight with him. When he got alone, he idled better and when company joined him, he fought on again. It was a very game performance. "
On April 30, 2006, Funny broke his losing streak by taking the Kings Point Handicap at Aqueduct. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The The Kings Point Handicap is an ungraded stakes race for three-year-olds and up run in the Spring at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica New York. Again ridden by Richard Migliore, Funny was dead game, proving he's still full of fight. "I'm more tired from trying to pull him up," Migliore stated. "I thought I was going to have to go around again. " Jon Constance of Sackets Six said, "We thought that he didn't have the heart he used to have. But it's not so. He looked around and saw that horse coming up at him — and he was gone. " (He has consistently reached the high-90s in the Beyer speed figures and at one time had 11 straight races with at least a 100 Beyer figure. )
On July 1, 2006, Funny Cide led all the way to win the $200,800 one and one-quarter mile Dominion Day Stakes (G3) at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Dominion Day Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in July at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. History The current Woodbine carries the name originally used by a racetrack which operated in east Toronto at Queen Street East and Kingston Road from 1874 through 1993 Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario The race attracted hundreds come just to see Funny, crowding the walking ring when he entered the paddock, and giving him an ovation at the post parade. But his definitive 1 1/2-lengths win over a tough field brought the whole crowd to its feet. Funny Cide broke from the inside post, controlling the Dominion, and holding off two serious challenges (first from Cryptograph who finished third, and then from Nolan's Cat who placed) as he clicked off early fractions of :23. 62 and :47. 14. Funny is the fifth Derby winner to race at Woodbine and the first to win there since Secretariat took the Canadian International in 1973. Secretariat ( March 30, 1970 &ndash October 4, 1989) was an American Thoroughbred Racehorse. The Canadian International Stakes is a $2 million Grade I Canadian Stakes race on Turf for Thoroughbred Racehorses three He is also the first Kentucky Derby winner to ever win a graded stakes race at the age of six. For the past 46 years, Funny is also only one of two Kentucky Derby winners to race at all at the age of six. (The other is the 1982 winner, Gato del Sol. ) Richard Migliore, riding him for the fourth time, said, "He's got a mind of his own. Richard Migliore (born March 14, 1964 in Babylon New York) is an American Jockey whose mounts have ranged from Fourstardave He's strong willed and been around long enough that he knows how he wants to do things. " As for Funny's last race on May 20, 2006 at Pimlico racecourse in Baltimore, Richard had this to say: "I was going to end up four or five wide on the first turn, so I tucked in to save ground. Events 325 - The First Council of Nicaea &ndash the first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church is held Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster that is primarily residential and well known for its collection of small hotels and impressive But the dirt hit him in the face and he got mad. I tried to restrain him, then when I asked him to run, he didn't want to go. You just have to hope he's in the right frame of mind because he can act like a grumpy old man sometimes. "
Funny Cide, who was born in Saratoga Springs, has now run twice at the Spa. Saratoga Springs is a City in Saratoga County, New York, USA. The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as Balneotherapy, Spa towns or Spa resorts offering such treatment or the medication First in the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap when 70,175 fans showed up, and for the second time in the Woodward Stakes on September 2, 2006. The Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicap was until it was discontinued in 2005 a Thoroughbred race for horses three-years-old and up run at Saratoga The Woodward Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older Thoroughbred horses in the United States. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
On July 4, 2007, lured to Finger Lakes Race Track by an extra $50,000 added to the purse, and ridden by Alan Garcia (who had given up several mounts at Belmont to ride Funny), Funny Cide came roaring around the far turn to take the $100,000 Wadsworth Memorial Handicap by three lengths and breaking his winless streak of six races. Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Location The track and Racino is located in Farmington in western New York State, approximately 25 miles southeast of Rochester NY Alan Garcia (born October 2, 1985 in Lima, Peru) is a Thoroughbred Horse racing Jockey. The Wadsworth Memorial Handicap is a Thoroughbred race for three year olds and up of either gender set at a distance of one and one eighth miles on the dirt The track, which can accommodate 2,000 patrons in the clubhouse and another 4,000 in the grandstand, had an attendance of well over 12,000 people (second largest crowd since its largest of 13,000 in 1962) for Funny Cide's appearance, the first winner of a Triple Crown race to run at Finger Lakes in its 46-year history.
Retirement
On Friday, July 13, 2007, Funny Cide's retirement was announced. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The collective partnership of Sackatoga, trainer Barclay Tagg, and his assistant Robin Smullen, decided that it was best to retire him on a high note with the victory in the Wadsworth and with the gelding still fit and sound. Barclay Tagg (born December 30, 1937 in Lancaster Pennsylvania) is an American Thoroughbred Horse trainer. According to Jack Knowlton, managing partner for Sackatoga Stable, his future career will be at the track with Tagg. He will be used as a stable pony in the mornings, accompanying younger horses in their training. "He'll still be doing what he's done the past five years, but he just won't be racing in the afternoon," Knowlton said.
Kelso became a jumper, Sir Barton worked for the U. Kelso (April 4 1957 - October 16 1983 was an American Thoroughbred Race horse and is considered to be among the best racehorses of the Twentieth century Sir Barton, (1916-1937 was a chestnut Thoroughbred colt who in 1919 became the first winner of the American Triple Crown. S. Army, Zippy Chippy, America's favorite horse racing loser, is now a stable pony at Finger Lakes racetrack . Zippy Chippy, born April 20 1991, is America's favorite Thoroughbred racing loser . . Funny remaining near his trainers and his hotwalker and all he's ever known is a fitting "retirement. "
NYRA held a "Funny Cide Retirement Party" at Saratoga Race Track on August 10, 2007. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
Funny Cide is a two time "New York-bred Horse of the Year". At retirement, he had earned $3,529,412. He also claims the highest earnings of any New York-bred racehorse in history. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous
Further reading
Funny Cide's biography, Funny Cide: How a Horse, a Trainer, a Jockey, and a Bunch of High School Buddies Took on the Sheiks and Bluebloods. . . and Won, written by Sally Jenkins, was published by G.P. Putnam's Sons in 2004. G P Putnam's Sons was a major United States Book publisher based in New York City, New York. ISBN 0-399-15179-6
Funny Cide for kids, A Horse Named Funny Cide, written by The Funny Cide Team, was published by Putnam Juvenile on April 20, 2006. Events 1303 - The University of Rome La Sapienza is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ISBN 0-399-24462-X
Footnotes
- ^ Beyer Index Figures are used for calculating the performance of a thoroughbred. It takes into account variables like track conditions as well as speed. It is widely accepted as an accurate indication of a horse's ability.
- ^ In his Starter Analysis, Steve Fugitte wrote: "FUNNY CIDE has the heart of a champion as evidenced by three stellar losing efforts in prep races. In Gulfstream's Holy Bull he drew a dreadful 13 post position and was unable to drop over at any point after hitting the gate leaving it. He still ran fifth that day and it was pure desire. Got a much cleaner trip in the Louisiana Derby but hooked a track that hated his running style. The Louisiana Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. Still managed third that day and he came again gamely to secure it after looking hopelessly beaten turning for home. Hooked Empire Maker in the Wood Memorial and was beaten a scant half-length by the Derby favorite while again battling from the rail. This horse is all heart and is due to get a winning trip. Doesn't have the pedigree to stay this distance but neither did Fusaichi Pegasus or Thunder Gulch and his turf-oriented trainer Barclay Tagg knows just how to put the stamina in a horse. Fusaichi Pegasus (ɸɯsaitɕi (foaled April 12 1997 was purchased as a yearling for $4 million by Fusao Sekiguchi. Thunder Gulch (born 1992 in Kentucky) is a Champion American Thoroughbred Racehorse who went off the starting gate at 25-1 odds Barclay Tagg (born December 30, 1937 in Lancaster Pennsylvania) is an American Thoroughbred Horse trainer. Posted a 110 Beyer Speed Figure in the Wood last out and will be very dangerous if able to repeat that number and work out some kind of stalking trip. The Beyer Speed Figure is a system for rating the performance of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America designed in the early 1970s by Andrew Beyer Definitely in my top four and a good bet across as an alternative to the favorite. "
References
- Funny Cide's official website
- Funny's pedigree
- Funny Cide, Three-year-old Male of the Year
- Funny's distaff line
- Distorted Humor - stallion register
- Tagg's website
- NTRA bio of Tagg
- NTRA bio of Sackatoga Stable
- NTRA bio of Jose Santos
- Funny Cide Kentucky Derby page
- Funny celebrates Canada Day
- Classic career history
- Funny heads the New York bred Millionaire's Club
External links
- BloodHorse July 13, 2007 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Winner Funny Cide Retired at Age 7
- Sports Illustrated July 14, 2007 'An unbelievable trip' 2003 Derby, Preakness Winner Funny Cide Retired
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