Funny Cide retired

[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.

[horseofcourse]

I don't really agree with this. The horse can still run. He put up 95-100 Beyers in the King's Point and Wadsworth. It's not superstar status by any means, but that's still a horse that can run. As stated he put the second largest crowd ever at Finger Lakes in the seats on a nasty/rainy day. He's still better than Evening Attire and that one darn near got 3rd in both the Excelsior and the Suburban. He's still a healthy and good race horse. There was no need to retire him. I think the irritation of Sackatoga hearing why/why/why/why/why every single time he ran finally wore them down.

This is the problem with racing...we finally get a very good horse/Ky Derby winner still running well into his 7 year old season and we all complain about that...yet we will also complain when Bernardini is retired after his 3 yr old year. We have our cake and eat it too. Ridiculous. He absolutely should not have been retired long ago...and he in my estimation shouldn't have been retired yesterday either. He's still a very useful race horse.

[ALostTexan]

Originally Posted by horseofcourse

I don't really agree with this. The horse can still run. He put up 95-100 Beyers in the King's Point and Wadsworth. It's not superstar status by any means, but that's still a horse that can run. As stated he put the second largest crowd ever at Finger Lakes in the seats on a nasty/rainy day. He's still better than Evening Attire and that one darn near got 3rd in both the Excelsior and the Suburban. He's still a healthy and good race horse. There was no need to retire him. I think the irritation of Sackatoga hearing why/why/why/why/why every single time he ran finally wore them down.

This is the problem with racing...we finally get a very good horse/Ky Derby winner still running well into his 7 year old season and we all complain about that...yet we will also complain when Bernardini is retired after his 3 yr old year. We have our cake and eat it too. Ridiculous. He absolutely should not have been retired long ago...and he in my estimation shouldn't have been retired yesterday either. He's still a very useful race horse.

I admit that I have to agree. If he is still sound let him run at smaller tracks, and give the fans something to see. But, I also have to agree that going out with a win is pretty cool...

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by ALostTexan

I admit that I have to agree. If he is still sound let him run at smaller tracks, and give the fans something to see. But, I also have to agree that going out with a win is pretty cool...

He's no worse than Evening Attire who just ran 3rd in a G1. When the JCGC is won in a 98 Beyer I will be really upset that they didn't keep him in training.

[ALostTexan]

Totally agree. Switching him back and forth to the grass and main track didn't help, either, and it only made him look bad and made this decision look logical...