2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes Winner

April 20 - Funny Cide

That longshot New York bred gelding that beat the regally bred Juddmonte owned Empire Maker in the Kentucky Derby - who remembers the hullabaloo over a photo that appeared to show a buzzer in Funny Cide's jockey's hand? It was later proven that it was just a particular angle that showed something in the background and NOT A BUZZER. Funny Cide would go on to be America's darling horse and the yellow school bus of owners following him in the Triple Crown journey was the stuff of a story book adventure. Only to be heart broken in the Belmont Stakes by Empire Maker.

Funny Cide would later go to be his trainer, Barclay Tagg's track pony after his racing days were over. Then, he became the poster boy of aftercare spending time at Kentucky Horse Park. He spent the last 15 years of life before passing away in 2023. He was an equine ambassador of goodwill to thousands upon thousands of visitors. He took over that torch from the Hall of Famer Cigar who was there when Funny Cide arrived at the KY Horse Park.

Funny Cide was the lovable New York bred gelding who captured America's heart in the spring of 2003. He was foaled in 2000 and trained by Barclay Tagg for Sackatoga Stable, a partnership of friends from upstate New York led by Jackson Knowlton. His sire was Distorted Humor, and his dam was Belle's Good Cide, a daughter of Slewacide. He was the first New York bred to win the Kentucky Derby and the first gelding to win the Run for the Roses since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.

Funny Cide came into the 2003 Kentucky Derby as a longshot. The Sackatoga partners famously rented a yellow school bus to ride to Churchill Downs, and the story caught fire with racing fans across the country. Ridden by jockey Jose Santos, Funny Cide sat just off the pace and powered home to win the Derby by nearly two lengths over the favorite Empire Maker. The country had a new feel good story, and the racing world had a new star.

Two weeks later in the 2003 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, Funny Cide ran an even bigger race. He drew off to win by nine and three quarter lengths, the largest margin of victory in the Preakness in decades. Suddenly he was just one race away from sweeping the Triple Crown. The 2003 Belmont Stakes drew a huge crowd of more than 100,000 fans hoping to see history. But on a sloppy track, Empire Maker turned the tables and Funny Cide finished third, ending the Triple Crown bid.

Funny Cide raced for several more years and added wins in races like the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Excelsior Handicap, becoming a beloved fan favorite at every track he visited. He retired in 2007 with 11 wins from 38 starts and over 3.5 million dollars in earnings. He spent his retirement at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, greeting fans as one of the most popular horses in the park's collection. Funny Cide passed away in 2024 at age 24. He is remembered as the people's horse, the gelding who proved that dreams can still come true at Churchill Downs.

Sources:

• Funny Cide - Wikipedia

• Sackatoga Stable

• Bloodhorse - Funny Cide