Bred at WinStar Farm in Versailles Kentucky Funny Cide was foaled at the McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbred Farm owned by Joe and Anne McMahon in Saratoga Springs New York. By Distorted Humor (a Mr. Prospector-line sire) he is out of the winning (but short-lived) Belle's Good Cide by Slewacide in turn by Seattle Slew. Joe and Anne McMahon owners of the farm where Funny Cide was foaled Robin Smullen assistant trainer with Ki Longfellow a fan Barclay Tagg at Saratoga September 1 2006

Funny Cide was part of one of Distorted Humor's first American crops when his stud fee was $10000. (Distorted Humor's fee for 2008 was $300000 for a live foal.)

Funny Cide was originally purchased in August 2001 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga preferred yearling auction in Saratoga Springs for $22000 by Tony Everard. With the average price of a yearling running about $43000 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. 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 (one testicle had not descended) and they usually sell cheaper." "Best" said Everard "to do this early. The undescended testicle hurts them and they don't learn as they should."citation needed Barclay Tagg

Barclay Tagg purchased the gelding for $75000 in a private transaction in March 2002 for Sackatoga Stable.

Once a steeplechase jockey Tagg (who grew up in Abington Pennsylvaniadisambiguation needed and won his first race in 1972 at Liberty Bell Park) was a journeyman who had been on the racing scene for over 30 years. 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.

Ray Paulick of The Blood-Horse said of Tagg "He has some characteristics uncannily like hall-of-famer "Silent" Tom Smith the trainer of Seabiscuit. 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."citation needed Early races

The chestnut gelding trained by Tagg and ridden by jockey Jose Santos made his two-year-old racing debut at Belmont Park on September 8 2002. Running away from the New York field under a hand ride he easily won the six-furlong race by fifteen-plus lengths. Three weeks later Funny Cide won his first seven-furlong stakes race the Bertram F. Bongard Stakes under another hand ride and by a similar margin. In the Bongard his Beyer Speed Figure1 was 103. No two-year-old in the country had run faster. His third winning effort as a two-year-old was his first mile race the Sleepy Hollow Stakes (also at Belmont Park). Under a hard hold by Santos he was for the first time challenged for the lead (by Spite the Devil); he 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 had enough courage to hold off a challenge. It also proved he could handle longer distances. By October 2002 Jose Santos believed this horse would be his "Derby horse" although there was more press coverage of Empire Maker and his stablemate Peace Rules (both horses trained by Robert J. Frankel). At three Funny Cide ran in the 1 1/16-mile Grade III Holy Bull Stakes. Breaking from post position 13 he hit the gate and raced wide for the entire trip. He finished fifth in a strong field which included Offlee Wild. In the Grade II Louisiana Derby he faced Peace Rules Kafwain and Badge of Silver. Staying close to the pace he rallied in the stretch dropped back and then came on again along the rail. Finishing third after Peace Rules he was moved up to second place after the disqualification of Kafwain. It was his strong second against Empire Maker (ridden by Jerry Bailey) in the 1 1/8-mile Grade I Wood Memorial on April 12 however which secured his place in the Kentucky Derby. Funny Cide lost the Wood by a short neck and was pressing Empire Maker at the wire even after New York Hero bore out very wide early taking the gelding with him and losing him his early momentum. Funny Cide earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 110 for the Wood. 2003 Kentucky Derby Coming into the Derby after a second in the Wood2 Funny Cide won the 2003 Kentucky Derby between the strong double entry of Frankel's Empire Maker (again with Jerry Bailey in the saddle) and Peace Rules ridden by Edgar Prado. He won by 1 lengths over the favorite Empire Maker paying $27.60 for every dollar bet to wincitation needed before a crowd of 148530. 2:01.19 Funny Cide's time is the tenth fastest time in 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. All was calm that first week after the Derby. Then Empire Maker was officially declared out leaving only six confirmed starters. 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. 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. Sometime in between all that Champali scratched after colicking. 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 including the in and outs and ins of New York Hero Ten Cents A Shine Foufa's Warrior and During. As Haskin went 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." Shipped in at the last moment by Tagg and stabled in Mary Eppler's barn to keep him calm and out from under the press this time Funny Cide was the betting favorite. On a cold wet day in May he burst from post position nine (only Layminister in 1910 and Canonero II in 1971 won from the ninth post) and was the runaway winner of the 2003 Preakness Stakes at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course. His time was 1:55:61 and he took the race by 9 lengths the second-largest margin in Preakness history. In the Preakness with Pimlico's sharp turns and on a fast track Funny Cide earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 114. He was only the third New York-bred to win the Preakness. The other two were Jacobus in 1883 and Margrave in 1896 (when the Preakness was run at Gravesend Race Track in Coney Island (Brooklyn) New York. 2003 Belmont Stakes It rained all day before the Belmont Stakes the most grueling of the three races and a quarter mile longer than the Kentucky Derby. New Yorkers came to the track in record numbers only to see Jose Santos ride Funny Cide too close to the rail where the mud was deepest (known as a "dead rail") and fight too hard to rate him. He finished third in the mud behind a fresh Empire Maker and Ten Most Wanted; both horses had skipped the Preakness Stakes. Frankel declared himself a happy man in the role of spoiler. "It may be mean" he said "but I'm glad I did it."citation needed Barclay Tagg got a measure of revenge later that year when Island Fashion won the Alabama Stakes. Her victory denied a $2 million Triple Tiara bonus to the owners of Spoken Fur (trained by Frankel). Immediately after the Belmont Tagg claimed that Funny Cide had not liked the track; however Belmont was Funny Cide's home track and he trained over it nearly every day regardless of weather. In an article published in March 2007 one read: "Looking back Tagg wonders if Funny Cide's 9-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. Tagg 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.'"citation needed Funny Cide won the Eclipse Award for 3 Year Old Male of the Year the first New York-bred to do so (Saratoga Dew was named American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 1992). Troubled years At four Funny Cide displayed flashes of his old form in the Massachusetts Handicap on July 3 2004 earning a 110 Beyer Speed Figure. The finish was a thrilling three-way photo at the wire between runner-up Funny Cide the winner Offlee Wild and The Lady's Groom. Funny Cide defeated Evening Attire after a stretch duel in the 2004 Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap and was then beaten by him in the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap. The highlight of his troubled four-year-old season was winning the 1-mile US $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park in October against his rival Evening Attire and a promising colt The Cliff's Edge. In the Gold Cup he earned a 112 Beyer. Except for Real Quiet in 1999 for many years no other horse who had won a three-year-old classic had gone on to take another Grade 1 race as an older horseexcept Funny Cide.citation needed During Funny Cide's four-year-old season he was beset with respiratory problems. The raceclarification needed was held at the Santa Anita track when a major forest fire raged nearby darkening the air with hot soot. During his five-year-old season he had back problems undiagnosed until he had raced out of the money in several graded races. Tagg decided to rest Funny Cide for the last half of the season. Comeback On February 2 2006 Funny Cide finished ahead of odds-on favorite Sun King winner of the Pennsylvania and Tampa Bay Derbies third in the 2005 Jockey Club Gold Cup and later second by a nose Invasor in the 2006 Whitney Stakes in a one-mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park. The stakes-winning sprinter Sir Greeley took the race in a quick 1:32.42 but Funny Cide's jockey the top 10 New York Racing Association rider Edgar Prado said "He broke sharp and was right with those horses from the go. He never gave up. I was very happy with his race."citation needed On April 1 he again placed in his second Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap at Aqueduct. "He ran a fantastic race" jockey Richard Migliore said. "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."citation needed On April 30 Funny Cide broke his losing streak by taking the Kings Point Handicap at Aqueduct. Jockey Richard Migliore said "I'm more tired from trying to pull him up. 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."citation needed (He had 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.) Funny Cide with his hotwalker Raunie Hart (who was there from the start) On July 1 Funny Cide led all the way to win the Grade III $200800 1 1/4-mile Dominion Day Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto Canada. The race attracted many who had come just to see Funny Cide; they crowded the walking ring when he entered the paddock and gave him an ovation during the post parade. His 1-length win over a strong field brought the crowd to its feet. Funny Cide broke from the inside post and held off two challenges (from Cryptograph who finished third and Nolan's Cat who finished second) in early fractions of :23.62 for the quarter-mile and :47.14 for the half. Funny Cide was the fifth Derby winner to race at Woodbine and the first to win there since Secretariat took the Canadian International in 1973. He was also the first Kentucky Derby winner to win a graded stakes race at the age of six. Funny Cide was also one of only two Kentucky Derby winners in 46 years to race at the age of six. (The other was Gato Del Sol the 1982 winner.) Funny Cide ran on May 20 2006 at Pimlico racecourse in Baltimore. Funny Cide foaled in Saratoga Springs ran twice at the "Spa" first in the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (before 70175 fans) and in the Woodward Stakes on September 2 2006. On July 4 2007 lured to Finger Lakes Race Track by an extra $50000 added to the purse Funny Cide came roaring around the far turn to take the $100000 Wadsworth Memorial Handicap by three lengths under Alan Garcia breaking his six-race winless streak. The track (which could accommodate 2000 patrons in the clubhouse and another 4000 in the grandstand) had an attendance of well over 12000 people (its second-largest crowd since 1962) for Funny Cide's appearance. He was the first winner of a Triple Crown race to run at Finger Lakes in its 46-year history. Retirement On July 13 2007 Funny Cide's retirement was announced. The partnership of Sackatoga Stable Barclay Tagg and assistant trainer Robin Smullen decided that it was best to retire him on a high note with the victory in the Wadsworthvague and with the gelding still fit and sound. Jack Knowlton managing partner for Sackatoga Stable agreed that Funny Cide's future career would be at the track with Tagg. He became 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. NYRA (the New York Racing Association) held a "Funny Cide Retirement Party" at Saratoga on August 10 2007. Funny Cide is a two-time "New Yorkbred Horse of the Year". At his retirement in 38 starts he won 11 races finished second six times and third eight times; his earnings were $3529412.3 Funny Cide had the highest earnings of any New York-bred racehorse in history. Saratoga Race Course has honored him with a stakes race for older New York-breds the Funny Cide Stakes. He was known as "the people's horse" and "the pride of New York". On December 5 2008 Funny Cide took up residence at the Kentucky Horse Park alongside Cigar Da Hoss the late Alysheba and other champions. His work as Barclay Tagg's stable pony had begun to give him some discomfort.4 In April 2010 the New York Thoroughbred Breeders voted Funny Cide the New Yorkbred horse of the decade. See also Barclay Tagg Sackatoga Stable WinStar Farm Further reading Jenkins Sally Funny Cide: How a Horse a Trainer a Jockey and a Bunch of High School Buddies Took on the Sheiks and Bluebloods... and Won. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons 2004. ISBN 0-399-15179-6 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. 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. 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. Definitely in my top four and a good bet across as an alternative to the favorite." 1 Funny Cide's five-generation pedigree record and earnings. Accessed February 16 2011. bloodhorse.com External links Funny Cide's official website Funny Cide'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 Jose Santos Funny Cide Kentucky Derby page Funny celebrates Canada Day Funny heads the New York bred Millionaire's Club 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 Retireddead link Funny Cide race results replays silks pedigree photos and news v d eKentucky Derby winners 1875 Aristides 1876 Vagrant 1877 Baden-Baden 1878 Day Star 1879 Lord Murphy 1880 Fonso 1881 Hindoo 1882 Apollo 1883 Leonatus 1884 Buchanan 1885 Joe Cotton 1886 Ben Ali 1887 Montrose 1888 Macbeth II 1889 Spokane 1890 Riley 1891 Kingman 1892 Azra 1893 Lookout 1894 Chant 1895 Halma 1896 Ben Brush 1897 Typhoon II 1898 Plaudit 1899 Manuel 1900 Lieut. Gibson 1901 His Eminence 1902 Alan-a-Dale 1903 Judge Himes 1904 Elwood 1905 Agile 1906 Sir Huon 1907 Pink Star 1908 Stone Street 1909 Wintergreen 1910 Donau 1911 Meridian 1912 Worth 1913 Donerail 1914 Old Rosebud 1915 Regret 1916 George Smith 1917 Omar Khayyam 1918 Exterminator 1919 Sir Barton 1920 Paul Jones 1921 Behave Yourself 1922 Morvich 1923 Zev 1924 Black Gold 1925 Flying Ebony 1926 Bubbling Over 1927 Whiskery 1928 Reigh Count 1929 Clyde Van Dusen 1930 Gallant Fox 1931 Twenty Grand 1932 Burgoo King 1933 Brokers Tip 1934 Cavalcade 1935 Omaha 1936 Bold Venture 1937 War Admiral 1938 Lawrin 1939 Johnstown 1940 Gallahadion 1941 Whirlaway 1942 Shut Out 1943 Count Fleet 1944 Pensive 1945 Hoop Jr. 1946 Assault 1947 Jet Pilot 1948 Citation 1949 Ponder 1950 Middleground 1951 Count Turf 1952 Hill Gail 1953 Dark Star 1954 Determine 1955 Swaps 1956 Needles 1957 Iron Liege 1958 Tim Tam 1959 Tomy Lee 1960 Venetian Way 1961 Carry Back 1962 Decidedly 1963 Chateaugay 1964 Northern Dancer 1965 Lucky Debonair 1966 Kauai King 1967 Proud Clarion 1968 Forward Pass 1969 Majestic Prince 1970 Dust Commander 1971 Canonero II 1972 Riva Ridge 1973 Secretariat 1974 Cannonade 1975 Foolish Pleasure 1976 Bold Forbes 1977 Seattle Slew 1978 Affirmed 1979 Spectacular Bid 1980 Genuine Risk 1981 Pleasant Colony 1982 Gato Del Sol 1983 Sunny's Halo 1984 Swale 1985 Spend A Buck 1986 Ferdinand 1987 Alysheba 1988 Winning Colors 1989 Sunday Silence 1990 Unbridled 1991 Strike the Gold 1992 Lil E. Tee 1993 Sea Hero 1994 Go For Gin 1995 Thunder Gulch 1996 Grindstone 1997 Silver Charm 1998 Real Quiet 1999 Charismatic 2000 Fusaichi Pegasus 2001 Monarchos 2002 War Emblem 2003 Funny Cide 2004 Smarty Jones 2005 Giacomo 2006 Barbaro 2007 Street Sense 2008 Big Brown 2009 Mine That Bird 2010 Super Saver 2011 Animal Kingdom Legend - Triple Crown Winners Filly v d ePreakness Stakes Winners 1873 Survivor 1874 Culpepper 1875 Tom Ochiltree 1876 Shirley 1877 Cloverbrook 1878 Duke of Magenta 1879 Harold 1880 Grenada 1881 Saunterer 1882 Vanguard 1883 Jacobus 1884 Knight of Ellerslie 1885 Tecumseh 1886 The Bard 1887 Dunboyne 1888 Refund 1889 Buddhist 1890 Montague 1894 Assignee 1895 Belmar 1896 Margrave 1897 Paul Kauvar 1898 Sly Fox 1899 Half Time 1900 Hindus 1901 The Parader 1902 Old England 1903 Flocarline 1904 Bryn Mawr 1905 Cairngorn 1906 Whimsical 1907 Don Enrique 1908 Royal Tourist 1909 Effendi 1910 Layminster 1911 Watervale 1912 Colonel Holloway 1913 Buskin 1914 Holiday 1915 Rhine Maiden 1916 Damrosch 1917 Kalitan 1918 War Cloud 1918 Jack Hare Jr. 1919 Sir Barton 1920 Man o' War 1921 Broomspun 1922 Pillory 1923 Vigil 1924 Nellie Morse 1925 Coventry 1926 Display 1927 Bostonian 1928 Victorian 1929 Dr. Freeland 1930 Gallant Fox 1931 Mate 1932 Burgoo King 1933 Head Play 1934 High Quest 1935 Omaha 1936 Bold Venture 1937 War Admiral 1938 Dauber 1939 Challedon 1940 Bimelech 1941 Whirlaway 1942 Alsab 1943 Count Fleet 1944 Pensive 1945 Polynesian 1946 Assault 1947 Faultless 1948 Citation 1949 Capot 1950 Hill Prince 1951 Bold 1952 Blue Man 1953 Native Dancer 1954 Hasty Road 1955 Nashua 1956 Fabius 1957 Bold Ruler 1958 Tim Tam 1959 Royal Orbit 1960 Bally Ache 1961 Carry Back 1962 Greek Money 1963 Candy Spots 1964 Northern Dancer 1965 Tom Rolfe 1966 Kauai King 1967 Damascus 1968 Forward Pass 1969 Majestic Prince 1970 Personality 1971 Canonero II 1972 Bee Bee Bee 1973 Secretariat 1974 Little Current 1975 Master Derby 1976 Elocutionist 1977 Seattle Slew 1978 Affirmed 1979 Spectacular Bid 1980 Codex 1981 Pleasant Colony 1982 Aloma's Ruler 1983 Deputed Testimony 1984 Gate Dancer 1985 Tank's Prospect 1986 Snow Chief 1987 Alysheba 1988 Risen Star 1989 Sunday Silence 1990 Summer Squall 1991 Hansel 1992 Pine Bluff 1993 Prairie Bayou 1994 Tabasco Cat 1995 Timber Country 1996 Louis Quatorze 1997 Silver Charm 1998 Real Quiet 1999 Charismatic 2000 Red Bullet 2001 Point Given 2002 War Emblem 2003 Funny Cide 2004 Smarty Jones 2005 Afleet Alex 2006 Bernardini 2007 Curlin 2008 Big Brown 2009 Rachel Alexandra 2010 Lookin At Lucky 2011 Shackleford