Debra Roma Photography
Fans at Churchill Downs Racetrack were treated on Thursday to a joint appearance of 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide and Mine That Bird, the longshot victor in 2009.
Debra Roma Photography
Funny Cide was joined by Jack Knowlton, the managing partner of the Sackatoga Stable partnership that owns Funny Cide, and jockey Jose Santos.
The popular chestnut gelding traveled from his current home at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his triumph in the “Run for the Roses.” Mine That Bird is in limited residence through July 4th at the Kentucky Derby Museum.
Debra Roma Photography
Funny Cide made Kentucky Derby history as the New York-bred trained by Barclay Tagg knocked off favored Empire Maker to become the first gelding since 1929 to earn Derby roses. He went on to win the Preakness (GI), the second jewel of racing’s Triple Crown, by 9 3/4 lengths before he finished third in a rematch with the victorious Empire Maker in the Belmont Stakes, the Crown’s final jewel. The son of Distorted Humor was named the champion 3-year-old of 2003 and won 11 of 38 races and earned $3,529,412 during his five-year career on the track. [CHURCHILL DOWNS VIDEO]
