Poor Funny Cide

TJ · Postby TJ » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:20 am

I think Funny Cide is still a happy camper. He may have lost a step or two but he is still capable of earning in non graded stakes. Tagg won't abuse his Derby winner and will do the right thing when he feels Funny Cide doesn't want to play anymore. He worked a bullet 1/2 going into this Finger Lakes race--know who was 2nd best on the tab--Invasor. TJ

Sysonby · Postby **Sysonby** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:20 am

pokeyman wrote:Man, I just want to buy that horse! He would be great for racing fans if he lived at The Kentucky Horse park!

Not every horse wants to be shown off all the time. I saw John Henry 10 years ago and I saw him again this year. Being on display may be great for his fans. I'm not sure the horse would have picked that retirement.

Frankly I think its a great thing that they are thinking of the horse and not try to relive past glory by chasing Grade 1s.

pokeyman · Postby **pokeyman** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:20 am

Rokeby Forever wrote:You too, Pokeyman...ALWAYS good to see ya around. Happy 4th!

Happy 4th to you too!

I have to head offline soon as need to get ready for guests..

Be safe!

pokeyman · Postby **pokeyman** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:22 am

Sysonby wrote:
pokeyman wrote:Man, I just want to buy that horse! He would be great for racing fans if he lived at The Kentucky Horse park!

Not every horse wants to be shown off all the time. I saw John Henry 10 years ago and I saw him again this year. Being on display may be great for his fans. I'm not sure the horse would have picked that retirement.

Frankly I think its a great thing that they are thinking of the horse and not try to relive past glory by chasing Grade 1s.

Yeah, I saw him too. But he's a A-hole by nature! Let's face it..he's a major grouch!

They are turned out in huge grass paddocks as you know and brought out in brief stretches. If FC has lived at a track his whole life he might need "activity".

sunday_silence · Postby **sunday_silence** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:58 am

pokeyman wrote:
sunday_silence wrote:Funny Cide was at a farm in FL for several months before joining Tagg at Gulfstream in Feb. or Mar. It's widely known.

No, he was a FL training center in a shedrow barn.

He wasn't. I knew this already, but Robin Smullen also confirmed it in the Keeneland stable notes from April 4th.

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:55 am

Tagg has said from Day #1 that Funny Cide hates the turf...so he raced the horse on Keeneland's Polytrack. Go figure, huh?

oliverstoned · Postby **oliverstoned** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:36 pm

The handicap division is getting weaker and weaker if he hangs around long enough he might just be graded quality again! Bet he would have got a nice check in the Suburban. Glad to see a new jock on him today think he needs a change maybe a new trainer would help too Tagg seems to overthink things with him.

griff · Postby **griff** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:46 pm

pokeyman

no, no, I am serious. Did he shake his head once for no and twice for yes or was it a foot thing?? Or was it some kind of mind reading thing?

griff

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 1:51 pm

According to people who have seen Funny Cide in recent races at the track, he loves the attention and win or lose acts the part of the great champion.

Which in fact he is, as there are few horses in history who won the Derby, Preakness, Jockey Club Gold Cup and came third in the Belmont.

I do agree that a change of trainer from Tagg might do Funny Cide a bit of good as a competing racehorse, but you will never convince me that bringing the equine heroes to see the fans, even if it costs money, is not good for the sport.

It's done all the time in Britain, with great success, and many of the retired (and unretired - e.g. Silver Birch, Collier Hill) horses love it, not to mention the cheering fans. And really the horses don't have to type up a letter in triplicate to let everyone know that. The year before he died at an advanced age, Desert Orchid was prancing around at the King George and was so eager for a canter that it took two people to hold him. He paraded many times throughout his retirement, and was so popular by the time of his death that there was practically a period of national mourning. The only thing I'm not keen on is bringing out an old horse that hasn't paraded for years, it can be too stressful. But if they're used to it from the time of retirement, I think many of them thrive on it.

People are always whining here about why don't we do things for the fans and the sport and capitalize on our equine heroes - so here we are doing that, and what happens? Whining.

RuffianT21 · Postby **RuffianT21** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:26 pm

well, he won his race by 3.

pokeyman · Postby **pokeyman** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:28 pm

griff wrote:pokeyman

no, no, I am serious. Did he shake his head once for no and twice for yes or was it a foot thing?? Or was it some kind of mind reading thing?

griff

Like I said...obviously you're not a horseperson.

If you can't tell when your horse is happy, depressed, needs a change of scenery, can or cannot handle an environement, etc..then you really don't need to be owning horses. It's not rocket science just good horsemanship.

For example, our Arabian stakes horse was layed up over the winter and we knew he was ready to roll when he practically tore his paddock fence down and had a fit when the others were tacked up. When he was galloped, he was strong, and playful, and naughty! Naughty is actually a good sign in a racehorse, believe it or not. :-)

Sure enough, he just won gate to wire and drew off to win by 5 in a MSW in his 7th start (1 win, 2 seconds, 2 thirds).

Likewise, I just sent one of my top show horses to a busier farm because her personality and behavior told me she would do better with more activity. I was right. She LOVES the activity and is much happier. She was quite bored here.

On the otherhand, I have 3 mares that excel at our farm as it is quiet, peaceful, same routine. They get handles a lot here..fly spray, groomed, feet picked out, fly sheets put on, etc and some horses do better with that human contact and quiet atmosphere.

We knew it was time to retire one of our geldings when he was layed up and was happy. Got fat. Didn't run the fences. Didn't care when other horses were taken out to gallop. He was as happy as a clam not being a racehorse. He is now on trial with a teenager to be a pony club mount and loving life.

I suggest you get off the computer and on the back of a horse and get an education! If you are close to me, I have a couple you are more then welcome to come ride!

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:30 pm

Thanks Ruffian - cheers for Funny Cide. I hope the fans had a terrific time.

pokeyman · Postby **pokeyman** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:41 pm

RuffianT21 wrote:well, he won his race by 3.

Well, it looks like he still wants to be a racehorse! That's good..makes me feel better about his recent efforts. I am quite attached to the boy!

sunday_silence · Postby **sunday_silence** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:44 pm

geowarrior wrote:According to people who have seen Funny Cide in recent races at the track, he loves the attention and win or lose acts the part of the great champion.

I observed this. The day after his loss at Keeneland, he was mugging and posing as if he had won the Derby the day before. He trains with great enthusiasm in the mornings.

sunday_silence · Postby **sunday_silence** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:46 pm

Rokeby Forever wrote:Tagg has said from Day #1 that Funny Cide hates the turf...so he raced the horse on Keeneland's Polytrack. Go figure, huh?

I never quite understood this, either. Smullen was quoted as saying she thought he really liked the surface in the mornings, before the race. I heard that she told people privately that she knew he wasn't going to run well because he hadn't taken to the polytrack. I knew he wasn't going to run well when I saw he was still fat and out of shape. Go figure.