Funny Cide
 

Surprised no one commented about FC's race. This horse is done! Shows none of the spirit of old, does not want to win and should at least be allowed to spend the rest of his days in the life style he diserves. Maybe he can have an operation and put that thing back on so he can have some fun.

I agree. Funny Cide deserves to be retired and live out his years in lush green pastures. He's run longer and harder than many.
I hope his connections do the right thing for the horse.

First off, I never play internet horse trainer or anything of the like. I've never spent any time around this horse and can only go on what I've seen of him on the track. I haven't seen anything to the effect, but for all I know he could have bled, been sick and scoped bad, etc. -- meaning there could be some sort of excuse. Regardless, in this case, it doesn't matter.

Whether there is or not, no way they should take a shot in the Cigar. Even when this horse is at 100% -- today -- he cannot compete with the top tier, open, G1 class of horses. I think he has shown that. Now there is nothing wrong with that. There is no shame in not being at the top of the game. Racing this horse in G1's is not smart and won't be popular either. It will cause the end to arrive much sooner.

Yesterday's performance certainly wasn't up to expectation, but, what did he get beat -- a couple of lengths? He came back on a bit in the stretch. Sure, he lacked any full finish or late kick. I don't want to see this come to the 2005 Suburban. That was very sad. This horse looked like he wanted no part of racing, perhaps not even any part of the track. He did outclass the field in Canada recently so I am not sure that is reflective of this horse being able to compete in G3's.

If he is healthy and right, he can probably compete against the NY breds. Maybe yesterday wasn't a true indication of where he is in his career. If it is -- then it is time to retire him.

Eric

Now I'm no Funny Side supporter (or apologist) but I don't see how the Empire Classic is proof of anything. It was an aberrant ride by Velasquez, strangling him back out of his preferred style and taking him wide. The horse is probably done but I think he was taken so far out of his game yesterday that it's hard to draw such absolute conclusions. And is Organizer really "the best" of the NY breds? It was a weird race.

I think FC was done after his effort in Preakness 2003 !!!!

I agree with the Mile but GUN him from the gate and let him look other horses in the eye on the lead, he might stay then

Funny Cide kinda reminds me of Mike Tyson. Maybe he should go on an exhibition tour and then off to greener pastures.

Um, didn't he just miss $150,000 by one and a half lengths? Stick to state bred races and the occassional weak open stakes next year and he'll be just fine. Evaluate him for what he is, a 6yo gelded NY bred and a pretty darn good one at that.

He still looked pretty game to me...

It's a shame though... :(

I totally agree ( though I am guessing the writer meant abhorrent ). All of Funny Cide's good races have been on the engine, something Mig figured out, and with the scratches yesterday there was very little pace....so what did Corny do....strangled him into submission and took away his edge. Would he have won? I don't know, but he certainly wasn't given a fair chance.

Nope. I meant aberrant, though abhorrent works too.

I always liked " abhor "...works for me.

Can a jockey ever give an "aberrant " ride....other than Kent Desormeaux giving a good ride?

Yeah, when Cornelio "deviates from the proper or expected course," he gives an aberrant ride (which is also abhorrent.)

When I look at some of the horses who were in my Road to the Roses stables over the years, I think Funny Cide is doing OK. He is still competitive in stakes races at some level. Some of those horses who looked so promising in the winter and spring of the year have been running in mid-to-low level claiming races, and not always winning.

a lot of horses lose more than they win, yet funny is the only one to get constant 'retire him now' threads. it's silly.
we expect horses to stick around, yet when they do we're in a hurry to see them go. having your cake and eating it too i suppose.

Yeah, as long as there are state bred stakes that he can compete in he belongs on the track. When the day comes where he can't even hit top five in those races and claimers are the only option then it is time to retire him.

i wouldn't mind seeing him run in a claiming race, than there would possibly be new ownership!!!

Maybe they can sell him to Tagg so he can make him his pet, because that is all he is right now.

Spite the Devil is he done?
 

Spite the Devil finished up the track somewhere. Is he done? How about Naughty New Yorker he finished 6th. Is he done too?? If Funny Cide deserves retirement for finishing 4th, then you should demand retirement from anyone that finishes behind him!

He looked like a horse that doesn't give a sh!t anymore. He runs erratically, like he doesn't care. CV whipped the hell out of him trying to get him interested on the far turn and into the stretch. He made a mild rally and then kind of just said "The hell with this". If he had any interest, he would have beaten this group for fun.

He should be sent to KHP to hang out with John and Cigar. He could tell them about winning the Derby and Preakness and racing in front of a record 103,000 going for the TC. He deserves his place in the sun, not this continuing charade by the Sackacaca boys

This is grossly inaccurate. Most people on this board wanted to see Funny Cide retired to enjoy the rest of his life and get away from the grind that is racing. He has given so much to the fans of the sport, many enjoyable races and great memories. I know a good amount of people who became fans watching Funny Cide run to the Triple Crown, both on the talent he exerted and the great story he carried with him.

I think it is obvious this horse has given almost close to all he has for his owners and fans. It's time for someone to give back to him, and take him off the track to spend a life befitting of the champion he is.

Well said Suffolk! Here here!
What Funny Cide has done for NY breds deserves respect.
I vote to let him graze. He's done more than enough.

Soo all of you are saying.....

As long as you don't win the Kentucky Derby....

It's OK to grind? Spite the Devil is just as old as FC and it's okay for him to grind just because he didn't win the Derby?

In my opinion, every horse deserves importance....and if you think a 6 year old who just finished 4th by 1 and a half lengths in a stakes deserves retirement, then there are far more that deserve it as well.

that's for sure...geesh, he can't win every race for cryin out loud...http://www.racereplays.com/nybreds/i...name=20060430a

You are totally missing the point. This is not based on one race. This is based on a body of work. As time has gone on, the horse is not what he used to be, and has shown signs of disinterest in racing. Alot of people who know more than you and I have said the same. There is a time to realize when the button has been pushed too many times. Nobody is saying he should be retired because he lost by a length or two in the Empire Classic.
We are saying that over the last two years, his performances have regressed and is clearly not the level horse that can compete too much in graded company.

This isnt a knock on the horse, nor is it a statement that he cant continue to race for smaller purses NY bred stakes. He certainly can. But, what is the gain, other than money?

At this point its just selfish keeping the horse out there hoping to pull down some extra cash for the owners. He has already given a whole lot to Sackatoga, and it's time they gave to him for once.

Is Tyson as fast as FC?
 

I agree with SS and will take it a step further as many believe if he finds the right level, he will be competitive. I say he won't and he will never win again. And, as they lower the bar to find his "winning" level I say the horse will simply show he wants some oats and sunshine, and not being made to run fast.

Unless we see him at Mountaineer. I like the Tyson analogy. He's just finished.

Mike Tyson, Ricky Henderson, Jerry Rice, Funny Cide.

Enough said. Hang up the horseshoes.

Amen Rev. Well said.

Funny Cides owners have done a fabulous job spotting his races. They should get a special eclipse for really being sharp. Poor Barclay and Poor Funny Cide, they are at the hands of the owners.

Funny has made $240,000 this year. He also has more wins and more 100+ Beyer's than Perfect Drift has this year. So Funny Cide needs to retire and Perfect Drift is going to hit the board in the Classic? I just don't get it. We should be thrilled that any stakes horses are racing 10 times a year, not to mention a dual classic winner racing 10 times in a year.

PD wouldnt have won any of the races Funny has ran in this year.

Exactly my point. Yet we have tons of people saying they should retire Funny and that Perfect Drift has a chance in the Classic.

Don't put Rickie in that group. I talked to him in '03 when he was playing for the Newark Bears in Bridgeport against the Bluefish. He signed on with the Dodgers. He left the Atlantic League leading the league in hitting.

I dont think people expect perfect drift to win, he never wins. Funny Cide will always be a Derby winner, a gutsy gelding. PD is the slow, boring, pick up the pieces gelding.

hes a gelding what else are they to do..run him...and run him..nyra still has a semi load of posters to give away,,and so do i.. anyone want one..

wow.

all those on here decrying the 'cruelty' of keeping funny cide at the races will be griping like made when bernardini retires...hell, ap warrior retired as well....oh, it's not right they'll say, it's too soon. he should race more. why, if it's so cruel?? why not let them go out a winner, rather than plodding along winning six figures a year when the obviously don't want to do it anymore.

damned if you do, damned if you don't. can't please any or everyone, so i hope everyone just tries to please themselves.

This rant coming from someone whose username ran three times. I saw his NW2 at Saratoga about '80. It was his last race

my screen name has nothing to do with my beliefs on running a horse. danzig was retired due to a serious knee injury... if you're advocating running unsound horses, you won't get much company in that thought.

funny cide is sound, he seems healthy, and unless he has shown he no longer wants to run, i see no reason to quit.

[quote=Danzig188]my screen name has nothing to do with my beliefs on running a horse. danzig was retired due to a serious knee injury... if you're advocating running unsound horses, you won't get much company in that thought.

QUOTE]
If I remember correctly, Danzig was a Woody/Henryk D horse. He was a son of Northern Dancer who retired after 3 races as a 3 yo and now has two million stakes winners and 5 million unsound offspring following in his footsteps