Funny Cide, the grand gelding who was by far the star of 2003 finally retires with 11 wins from 38 starts, and over 3.5 million dollars in earnings. Not too shabby for a horse purchased for $75,000. It was a nice ride, although lately a bumpy one, and the champion just did not seem too interested in running, and was long past his peak. He will be retired to the life of a stable pony. That seems a pretty mediocre calling for a dual classic winner, but if he enjoys the racetrack, one can understand why he isn’t being put out to pasture. Although, one would also think that the Kentucky Horse Park could use a star like Funny Cide to attract visitors.

It also isn’t hard to think that he could have another career, and looks like he could be a beautiful jumper. It would be nice to see him competing in the next Olympics even.

Funny CideFunny Cide retires sound and happy, and that is what, perhaps is most important of all. As a seven year old, he retires sounder than many three year olds nowadays, which makes it even more sad that he is a gelding. Thoroughbred racing could certainly use sons and daughters of a sound lineage. Funny Cide’s nemesis of his Triple Crown series isn’t that but breeders are lining up regardless for that enormous $100,000 price tag. His rate will no less be rising now that Empire Maker has had his first winner. Empire Maker’s career was not all that impressive either which makes his pricetag all the more disturbing. Jockey, Jerry Bailey bragged that the Empire could have beaten Funny Cide by a mile in the Wood Memorial. He just wasn’t running that hard to defeat the lowly New York bred gelding. He simply did not have Empire Maker’s measure.

He did a month later when he whipped him in the Derby and then went on to trounce all comers in the Preakness. For whatever reason, Bobby Frankel decided to keep his star home that day, all but assuring Funny Cide the three year old title. Empire Maker did foil Funny Cide’ triple crown bid, but one can forgive Funny Cide for that race, as many greats before him have failed in that long, grueling, historic mile and a half race. Empire Maker was a fresh horse, and his pedigree was well suited to the Belmont distance. Funny Cide then went on to finish third in the Haskell, while Empire Maker again dodged him and barely held on to win the Jim Dandy. I don’t even remember who he beat in that race.

Then it was off to the breeding shed for him to collect his absurd fees. We had Funny Cide for four more years, and we should thank Barclay Tagg and Sakatoga Stables for that. He was game and had some narrow losses, some big losses, and some nice wins. His absolute peak seemed to be on Preakness day, however and that is how this racing fan shall remember him. In a sport short on stars who run past their three year old seasons, it was sure nice to have Funny Cide around. Thank you for the ride and for the memories.