Frankel's Last Laugh

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

Louie Dula — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:12:57 GMT

Being a FUNNY CIDE fan I HATED Bobby Frankel for all his harsh words about my hero Funny Cide, there was no reason for him to be so nasty with his comments, he showed no class at all. Funny Cide brought so many people back to racing and his story was a heart warming one and he truly deserved all the attention that he received. People loved him then and they still love him now and it's lucky that his owners were kind enough to let him go live at the Kentucky Horse Park where his many fans can go to see him in person. He will always be remembered in our hearts as one very special horse. Way to go Funny!!!!!!!!

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

Freetex — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:36:51 GMT

It was a great thrill... those three exciting races.

Loved the horses, all of them.

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

EMD — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:22:38 GMT

I stop by to see Empire whenever I'm in Kentucky for Derby. He was a favorite of mine. Ive seen that look of eagles still there.

When do you think you people will figure out that it serves no purpose to demean a horse for any reason? They are what they are, no pretense, unlike the humans who constantly berate and belittle them. I'll take horses over people any day!

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

JUNIOR in Tampa — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:17:14 GMT

Im sorry but the Funny Cide crew screw the triple crown,first of all Jose Santos ride in the Preaknes,please save some horse for he belmont he didnt need to win by 9 in a half lengths and to top it all the work of 57.4 a few days before the race like Bobby said he need it that like a hole in his head ,oh well thats why is so hard to win the triple crown.

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

Dalziel — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:13:44 GMT

There should be little doubt that Empire Maker was far a far superior horse to Funny Cide. As usual in the States when there is a "human interest" angle involved with a Derby horse common sense goes out the window. Empire Maker was and is a magnificent looking animal but he had training problems & these came about at the wrong time in the lead up to the Triple Crown. Had he been in A1 condition he'd have won all 3 legs but these things happen and instead of being applauded for his ability he was booed because he had the audacity to beat the blue collar gelding.

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

txhorsefan — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:08:14 GMT

Only you could write it so that I could find a little less disappointment over Funny Cide's loss in the Belmont, and gain some appreciation for Empire Maker. At the time, I was totally caught up in the magic of the Sackatoga story, the beautiful gelding from New York and his quiet, gruff trainer and very much wanted to see a Triple Crown winner. After all these years have passed, I understand the rigors of racing more, truly respect and appreciate the great trainer that was Bobby Frankel, but it still made me sad at the time in 2003. No matter how badly I felt that Funny didn't win, I still think it was wrong for people to boo at the winners, but that is just me. Thank you, Steve, for another wonderful message!

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

Soldier Course — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:06:59 GMT

Looking out the window here in my favorite coffee cafe, I just saw a yellow school bus pass by. Same thought that I always have just flashed ... Funny Cide.

He may have been overrated as a serious Triple Crown hopeful, but I'll never get over how he rated in my heart.

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

da3hoss — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:36:20 GMT

Easy Goer was a GREAT horse with a fantastic rivalry with Sunday Silence...2 of the best to ever set foot on the track...Empire was a good horse.

Funny Cide ran for 5 years with breathing problems, won the Derby (like the 9th or 10th fastest ever), Preakness (114 Beyer and one of the biggest margins ever), a tremendous Jockey Club Gold Cup, plus stakes every year he ran.

He ran 38 times at the highest levels 38: 11-6-8, won 3 1/2 million $$, faced all challengers, didn't win 'em all but he tried every time.

What more do you want from a horse? I'd loved to have been part of his connections!!!

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

Footlick — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:37:18 GMT

Carolyn- He is in my prayers, but I always take news about laminitis with a grain of salt unfortunately. All we can do is pray and hope.

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

Footlick — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:34:54 GMT

John T-I don't know if Empire Maker would have owned Belmont, but Easy goer did. And I think he would have won the BC of Pat Day would have kept going when he made that huge move. But that's hindsight. I remember when Easy Goer was retired, Shug said it took all his talent to keep Easy Goer sound throughout his career because his legs were so bad. It was very classy that he never said anything about them or never used them as an excuse when he was running. But it would make sense that Belmont with it's wide turns would be easier on them. Steve, sorry to digress.

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

John T — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:02:11 GMT

Easy Goer and Empire Maker were 2

horses that so much was expected of and how ironic it was that both had their finest hour in the Belmont Stakes over 12 furlongs.

When I think back to Easy Goer thundering down the stretch after Sunday Silence in the Breeders Cup Classic just once I wished that race was the same distance as the Belmont.

Unlike a famous trainer we know I

hope they never change the distance of the Belmont or otherwise we would be robbed of the greatnes of horses like Easy Goer and Empire Maker.

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

PMAC14 — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:19:15 GMT

DaHoss,

POTN did the exact same thing, destroying em out in cali, a winning second in the derby, preakness?? and was gone.......just like his dad.

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

RGGC — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:41 GMT

Wonderful walk back to a great race and some really great people and horses. Mr. Frankle left us way too soon. Thanks for the trip and I look forward to another wonderful year of reading your work. Happy New Year Steve! May you have many, many more

RGGC

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

DB — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:46:38 GMT

Funny Cide was overrated and an untimely injury made Empire Maker underappreciated and cut his career way too short. I had no doubt that he was a far superior horse, but was also happy to see a "bunch of ordinary guys" have a run at the triple crown.

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

GOSLEY — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:24:58 GMT

Always respected Barclay Tagg so when I saw Funnycide lead in the La Derby I watched him. Only beat 1/2 length in the Wood. I said to anyone who would listen "If Tagg goes to Churchill he must have 5 lengths improvement up his sleeve."

Derby day I drove 45 minutes to Allentown Pa and put $20 across on Funicide and a 20 dollar box exacta with Empire Maker. $100 bet collected about $1500. Left the preakness alone (even money??). Belmont day I knew Frankel (God rest him) had Empire Maker right. No race since the Derby- perfect.

Figured Funnyside cooked & love Pat Day - same bet only EM & Ten Most Wanted. Made $550 that day. Faultless classic season and never repeated it but I'll always remember it. Just wish I'd stretched and did the triple with Funnycide. And forget all that garbage about ol' Barclay shivering & broke up at Penn. He's a blue blood steeplechase guy and they like to spin that stuff - not saying he didn't do it but COME ON BARCLAY! Not too many working stiffs name their kid BARCLAY. He's got to be the shrewdest around though - I love to watch him, always have back to when he was running cheap horses. A real canny Scot. 'nuff said. Frankel had the classier horse but Fla Derby and WOOD may not have been the route. He was a Prince though, and me a mere footman.

GOS.

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

darkhors — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:20:16 GMT

Thank you, Steve, for this one. It's fitting to remember Empire Maker's accomplishment given that we've just lost Bobby Frankel. Empire Maker and also Peace Rules were the horses that first got me interested in following Frankel's career.

I saw Empire Maker's Belmont on TV, not in person. As the horses came out of the tunnel and into the rain, if ever you wanted an example of the look of eagles, it was Empire Maker that day. I am not usually good at picking winners based on looks, but I knew that, barring disaster, it was Empire Maker's day. He just took my breath away. To me, Funny Cide looked unhappy and tense.

Thanks again.

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

carolyn — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:16:59 GMT

Steve, Happy New Year to you and your's.

RIP, Mr. Frankel.

Steve, May I take this opportunity on your blog to ask everyone to keep Kip Deville in their prayers, They say he is making progress. Lets hope he can beat this terrible disease that has taken so many of these beautiful creatures to early. I hope scientist can find a cure for this soon.

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

Linda in Texas — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:26:57 GMT

Just now seeing your article about Kip Deville and that he is making progress and wanted to thank you for the report. Each morning i look at the headlines to see if anything that starts with the dreaded "E" is there. Today it was in reference to Clutch Player and pneumonia, R>I>P> and not Kip Deville. Let's all continue to keep him in our thoughts and prayers. Now i plan to read your article about Mr. Frankel, but i need to finish all my feeding chores so i can totally concentrate! I have been waiting for it and knew in time you would post it. Thank you.

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

Zookeeper — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:16:13 GMT

Happy New Year, Mr. Haskin and thank you for rescuing us from the endless and inane debate over HOTY.

In 2003, I felt pretty sure that Empire Maker would win the Derby. But it did not take me long to jump on Funny Cide's bandwagon. The story of the people involved was just too compelling!!! I was very dissapointed that FC did not win the Belmont but if somebody else had to do it, I was glad it was Empire Maker. Too bad the racing fans (?!!?) booed him that day. He was such an good horse.

re: Frankel's Last Laugh

da3hoss — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:54:14 GMT

Empire Maker always left me cold...yeah, he won the Belmont, then finished second in the Jim Dandy and was gone...

Funny Cide beat himself that day, on a dead rail and fighting Santos.. he was a good little horse with enough breathing problems to keep him from becoming great, but he did have a great Derby, a 114 Beyer in his Preakness, the JCGC, stakes wins in all 5 years he raced and a BIG spot in our hearts...

I liked Peace Rules a lot more than Empire..he was my Derby horse...and accomplished more, to me, than Empire.