Funny Cide

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to [email protected] It was an exciting year at the Horse Park in 2023 at the Hall of Champions. It was a bit sad during the summer that we lost two great Thoroughbreds in Hall of Famer Point Given and dual Classic-winning Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, but we were recently able to add two Breeders' Cup winners in Roy H--a two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and two-time Eclipse...

A memorial service for the late dual Classic winner Funny Cide (Distorted Humor) was held at the Kentucky Horse Park Oct. 8, where the 'gutsy gelding' lived out his retirement at the Hall of Champions on the grounds. During the event, attended by fans of the New York-bred as well as Sackatoga Stable's Jack Knowlton, officials at the Horse Park announced that a statue of Funny Cide would be added to the Memorial Walk of Champions. "Funny Cide was a true champion," said Lee Carter, Kentucky Horse Park President. "Adding...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - During a ceremony Sunday morning prior to the annual upstate New York Showcase Day, some of the ashes of the late GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness winner Funny Cide (Distorted Humor) were interred at Saratoga Race Course. The popular New York-bred foaled at the nearby McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, and owned by the New York-based Sackatoga Stable, died at the age of 23 on July 16 from complications of colic at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. He won the 2003 Derby and Preakness...

The New York Racing Association will pay tribute to GI Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide (Distorted Humor), one of the most successful and popular New York-breds of all time, on New York Showcase Day, Aug. 27, at Saratoga Race Course. Funny Cide, who died earlier this summer due to complications from colic, earned more than $3.5 million during his six-year  career, including when he became the first New York-bred to win the "Run for the Roses". He was later named the 2003 Eclipse Award winner for Champion 3-Year-Old Colt. "Few...

Champion and dual classic winner Funny Cide (Distorted Humor), who passed away July 16 at age 23, will have his life and racing achievements celebrated with a Saratoga Send-Off party Aug. 16 at Siro's in Saratoga Springs. The event will be a tribute to "The Gutsy Gelding" who captured the hearts of racing fans and continued to be a fan favorite during his 15-year retirement at Kentucky Horse Park. Presented by Sackatoga Stable, the evening will feature a tribute video and a panel discussion emceed by Retired Race Caller Tom...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Funny Cide (Distorted Humor), the popular New York-bred gelding, who flirted with the 2003 Triple Crown and was the 3-year-old champion, died Sunday from complications of colic. Owned by Sackatoga Stable, formed by Jack Knowlton and based in upstate New York, Funny Cide won the GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Preakness S. His bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 ended in the GI Belmont S., when he finished third behind Empire Maker (Unbridled) over the sloppy course. Funny Cide's...

Jose Santos hasn't ridden in more than 15 years, but he never wanted to leave the racetrack.  But finding the right role proved to be difficult. He sold feed for a number of years but said he was losing money because so many people would not pay their bills. But about a month ago, Santos, 61, found something new, signing on with Enviro Equine as a salesman. He says it's a good fit. "I like it because it allows me to mingle with people from racetrack," Santos said.  "I went...

Distorted Humor (Forty Niner--Danzig's Beauty, by Danzig), sire of 2003 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. hero Funny Cide from his first crop and an additional 17 Grade I/Group 1 winners to date, was pensioned from stud duty by WinStar Farm Monday at the age of 28. WinStar also announced it is pensioning stalwart Congrats (A.P. Indy--Praise, by Mr. Prospector) at the age of 21. "We all owe Distorted Humor a debt of gratitude for all he has done for WinStar Farm, my family, and the many breeders who...

Fresh off of a powerhouse victory by his Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law (Constitution) in Saturday's GI Runhappy Travers S., Jack Knowlton joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland Wednesday morning to talk about the imposing GI Kentucky Derby favorite. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Knowlton also discussed the deal struck with Coolmore to stand Tiz the Law at Ashford Stud, how much it meant to be in attendance for the Barclay Tagg trainee's Travers victory and whether or not this renewed...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - Mixing confidence with the cautiousness that comes from years of experience in Thoroughbred racing, Jack Knowlton is more than ready for the GI Runhappy Travers S. Saturday that will feature Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law (Constitution). Seventeen years after Sackatoga's GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. winner Funny Cide (Distorted Humor) was scratched from the Travers the day before the race, Knowlton is eager to watch one of the horses he co-owns compete in the marquee race in the city that has been his home...

Seventeen years ago, Jack Knowlton's band-of-buddies Sackatoga Stable took the racing world by storm when their "gutsy gelding" Funny Cide (Distorted Humor) upset the GI Kentucky Derby before adding the GI Preakness S. and becoming one of the most popular horses of his generation. Things look much different for Sackatoga these days, with almost all new faces, but Knowlton remains the constant, and now he and his partners have another top Kentucky Derby contender to get excited about in GI Curlin Florida Derby victor Tiz the Law (Constitution). Knowlton joined...

Barclay Tagg is a straightforward, no-nonsense type of guy who's been training horses for close to 50 years. During his career, he had a stint as an assistant to legendary hard-boot trainer Frank Whiteley, Jr., and before that, he was a steeplechase jockey. He's in his early eighties and has spent most of his adult life around Thoroughbreds, including some greats, like Ruffian. He's won some big races, too, like the Gl Kentucky Derby and that's a big package of experience he brings to the table as the man behind...