Funny Cide retired

[AeWingnut]

"From all reports, Funny Cide will race for a few more years and then retire to farm life. Although, as Tagg says, "I'd run him until he dies. I don't see any reason not to. He's happy. He gets a lot of care. I get some flak from people thinking I'm being cruel to him by having him still run, but I don't know what else he would do. Fight flies in a paddock somewhere? Not many horses get the attention that sucker gets, I'll tell you. He's been in a racing stable his whole life. Why would he be happier out in a field fighting flies? I don't understand that. He couldn't look any better. He couldn't get any better feed, he couldn't get any better veterinary care. He couldn't get any better attention. He's got the same groom, the same hotwalker. How could he have it any better?"

Quite a few farms have asked about him, concerned for his welfare once his racing days are done. WinStar Farm, in particular, home of his sire Distorted Humor, would be happy to give their premiere stallion's premiere son a home. Or—he could live on at the racetrack, any racetrack that Tagg and Smullen traveled to with their horses. Funny loves the races. Robin says he stands and watches them for hours. How fine it might be if he could stay near, perhaps working as a stable pony. Kelso became a jumper, Sir Barton worked for the US Army, Zippy Chippy, America's favorite horse racing loser, is now a stable pony at Finger Lakes racetrack...why not Funny remaining near his trainers and his hotwalker and all he's ever known? It depends, of course, on his owners.

Funny Cide is now a two time "New York born Horse of the Year". To date (August 2006), he has won three million four hundred and thirty two thousand dollars plus change on that $75,000 dollar investment by Sackatoga Stable. He also claims the highest earnings of any New York born in history.

Even now, after a poor health-related showing in 2005, Funny Cide's Classic Performance Index (CPI), which is calculated each year, is 46, meaning that his average earnings per start is 46 times greater than the average of all like horses. "Like" horses means horses of the same sex, horses of the same age, horses racing in the same year(s), and horses racing in the same countries."

Funny Cide's retirement was announced Friday July 13, 2007.

The collective partnership of Sakatoga, trainer Barclay Tagg and his assistant Robin Smullens decided that it was best to retire him on a high note with the victory in the Wadsworth and with him still safe and sound.

"His future career is still yet to be determined although Tagg indicated that he will remain at the track for now as removing him from the environment he's known for years would be more difficult on him."

[ateamstupid]

Thanks for the memories old buddy. Here's to a long, happy life on the farm.

[The Bid]

Good

[miraja2]

I have always liked this horse since I picked him to win the Derby in '03 (my only correct Derby pick of this decade) and I like this decision a lot. You don't see people retire a healthy horse coming off a stakes win very often. The fact that he gets to go out a stakes winner is a nice end to a nice story. They didn't wait until they absolutely HAD to retire him, which I think is good.
Too bad Santos couldn't have made it back to ride him in his last race. That would have been nice.
The only time I saw him in person was when he won the '04 JCGC, which was an incredibly exciting race, and that is another rason that I will always remember the "gutsy gelding" fondly.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by miraja2

I have always liked this horse since I picked him to win the Derby in '03 (my only correct Derby pick of this decade) and I like this decision a lot. You don't see people retire a healthy horse coming off a stakes win very often. The fact that he gets to go out a stakes winner is a nice end to a nice story. They didn't wait until they absolutely HAD to retire him, which I think is good.
Too bad Santos couldn't have made it back to ride him in his last race. That would have been nice.
The only time I saw him in person was when he won the '04 JCGC, which was an incredibly exciting race, and that is another rason that I will always remember the "gutsy gelding" fondly.

I agree...going out in style...

[whodey17]

We need horses like FC racing. Bad decision to retire this horse if he is healthy. Look at the turn-out at Finger Lakes when he last raced. He could race 4 times a year and draw plenty of fans to the track, hook weak fields and be able to bank $150k to $300k a year.

[sumitas]

The great gutsy gelding is retired off a stakes win. It is fitting and just. Just like any great entertainer, leave the crowd wanting more.

[Suffolk Shippers]

Originally Posted by whodey17

We need horses like FC racing. Bad decision to retire this horse if he is healthy. Look at the turn-out at Finger Lakes when he last raced. He could race 4 times a year and draw plenty of fans to the track, hook weak fields and be able to bank $150k to $300k a year.

Normally, I would agree with this, maybe if he was a three yr or four yr old, but even though he remains a draw for fans, he's got alot of wear on his tires and sending him off healthy and in good spirits is the absolute right thing to do.
Funny Cide has been good to and for the game since he came into it, and it is time for the game to be kind to him in turn. This was the right decision.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I don't know if he could bank that much money. Finger Lakes isn't shelling out money like that. I like Funny Cide. Pounded him in that Preakness like HHH and his Belmont Day was my most enjoyable track day ever, rain and all. I'm cool with when he retired, goes out on top, healthy and isn't running up the track in allowances.

Finger Lakes has been rolling with the slots, they've got more money like that, no problem. Hell the NY Derby (run today for $175k) was $250k last year. But I'm with you, I'm glad to see him go out on top.