Funny Cide, the only New York-bred to win the Kentucky Derby and the standard bearer for the “little guy” in horse racing, will be remembered on July 4 at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack.
The track will pay tribute during the holiday card to the “Gutsy Gelding,” whose final career start came at Finger Lakes on July 4, 2007.
With the second-largest crowd in track history cheering wildly from the packed grandstand and track apron, Funny Cide roared down the stretch under jockey Alan Garcia to overtake race leader Johnie Bye Night and win the $100,000 Wadsworth Handicap by three widening lengths.
As he returned to the winner’s circle, the ownership group that comprised Sackatoga Stable celebrated wildly, an impromptu re-enactment of their first Saturday in May party in Louisville four years earlier.
“This gave him an opportunity to show his stuff in front of the hometown crowd,” said Jack Knowlton, managing of partner of Sackatoga stable, after the Wadsworth victory.
Just days later, Knowlton announced Funny Cide would be retired, and over the next decade and a half the chestnut gelding became one of the favorites of visitors to Kentucky Horse Park until his death on July 16, 2023, due to complications from colic. He was 20.
Finger Lakes will honor Funny Cide’s memory and career on the 17th anniversary of his final career race.
But long before Funny Cide ever ventured to race in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, he had captured the hearts and imaginations of railbirds and casual fans alike during his surprising run at Triple Crown glory in 2003.
A yearling purchase for $22,000 who was bought as a 2-year-old for $75,000 by Sackatoga Stable, Funny Cide gave his owners – a group of boyhood friends from Sackett’s Harbor, N.Y. – the ride of their life.
He won the Kentucky Derby by 1 3/4 lengths over Empire Maker, then romped to a 9 3/4-length victory in the Preakness Stakes before finishing third in the Belmont Stakes.
Despite failing to achieve Triple Crown immortality, Funny Cide had created legions of fans from coast to coast, and he continued to race into his 7-year-old season.
He finished his career with 11 victories in 38 starts and earnings of $3,529,412. The resume shows victories in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Excelsior Handicap, plus runner-up finishes in the Donn, New Orleans, Massachusetts, Suburban, and Saratoga Breeders’ Cup handicaps. He also won Canada’s Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes in July of 2006.
As a 7-year-old, he ran seventh in an optional claiming race and then third in back-to-back black-type stakes in New York before the special day at Finger Lakes came to fruition.
The track boosted the 1 and 1/8th mile Wadsworth purse from $50,000 to $100,000 as an incentive for Sackatoga Stable and trainer Barclay Tagg to ship to Farmington.
Fans flocked to the track to see Funny Cide and the Sackatoga Stable contingent signed autographs and displayed the Derby and Preakness trophies.
By race time, the terraced viewing area surrounding the paddock was overflowing with fans as Funny Cide was saddled by assistant trainer Robin Smullen.
The race did not start all that well for the Funny Cide faithful, however. He broke awkwardly, not uncommon for him, and then was slow to get into stride. He ambled along in fifth place down the backstretch while Johnie Bye Night loped along on an easy lead.
But Funny Cide found his best stride as he headed through the final turn and as he hit the top of the stretch, the roar from the crowd of better than 12,000 became deafening.
Funny Cide powered to the lead and won by open lengths as the first Kentucky Derby winner ever to race at Finger Lakes.
“He looked like he enjoyed it today,” Smullen said after the race.
Part of Funny Cide tribute day will be a meet-and-greet session with Knowlton and Funny Cide’s regular rider, Jose Santos, in the lower Clubhouse from noon to 2:30 p.m.
Santos, born in Concepcion Chile, was inducted in the Racing Museum Hall of Fame in 2007. During his career that spanned from 1984 until 2007, he won 4,083 races and had purse earning of $187,242,606.
In addition to Funny Cide, Santos rode some of the greats in the sport, including Manila, Cryptoclearance, Chief Bearhart, Gulch, Fly So Free, Meadow Star, Criminal Type, Colonial Affair, Steinlen, Lemon Drop Kid, Fleet Indian and Volponi.
A commemorative Funny Cide Tee-shirt and photo of Funny Cide’s last race at Finger Lakes giveaway taking place in the lower clubhouse while supplies last beginning at noon.
Trophies won by Funny Cide will be on display and videos of his most prestigious wins will be shown on the closed circuits monitors in between the Finger Lakes races.
There will be silent auctions for Funny Cide memorabilia, part of a fundraiser for the Kentucky Horse Park and the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Center.
THE ANNUAL JULY 4TH AT THE RACES CELEBRATION
Finger Lakes racing programs will be complimentary. There will be how-to-bet seminars at 12:15 p.m. and 12:45 p.m. with drawings held after each seminar for a $20 wagering voucher. A Chicken BBQ ($15) will be served beginning at noon. Racing gates open 11:30 am. Parking and admission are free
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