2003 Kentucky Derby

Horse race Dirt 129th Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby Churchill Downs May 3, 2003 Funny Cide 2:01.19 13:1 José A. Santos Barclay Tagg Sackatoga Stable FastChart of the Kentucky Derby http://www.equibase.com/premium/chartEmb.cfm?track=CD&raceDate=05/03/2003&cy=USA&rn=10 Equibase 9 May 2020 148,530 2002 2004 The 2003 Kentucky Derby was the 129th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 3, 2003, and was won by longshot Funny Cide. There were 148,530 in attendance.Kentucky Derby History, 2003 Contenders Sportswriter Steve Haskin called the 2003 Derby contenders a "perplexing group".Steve Haskin's Road to the Kentucky Derby: On To The Downs https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/182554/steve-haskins-road-to-the-kentucky-derby-on-to-the-downs BloodHorse.com 9 May 2020 The horses with the best form at age two (Vindication, Toccet, and Sky Mesa) all got injured while preparing for the Derby and ultimately missed the race. Instead, later developing colts dominated the final major preps in March and April.Steve Haskin's Derby Story: Cide Show https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/182235/steve-haskins-derby-story-cide-show BloodHorse.com 10 May 2020 The clear favorite was Empire Maker, who had won both the Florida Derby and Wood Memorial.Empire Maker profile http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=5378341&registry=T&rbt=TB Equibase 9 May 2020 Empire Maker was at 6:5 on the morning line but drifted out to 5:2 by post-time based on concerns about a bruise to his right front hoof in the final days of training. Peace Rules was the second choice at odds of 6:1 after winning the Louisiana Derby and Blue Grass Stakes.Peace Rules profile http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=5568229&registry=T&rbt=TB Equibase 9 May 2020 Both horses were trained by Bobby Frankel, a Hall of Fame inductee who had never won a Triple Crown event.A Nack BackTrack: Kentucky Derby 2003 Eludes Frankel https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/227079/a-nack-backtrack-kentucky-derby-2003-eludes-frankel BloodHorse.com 9 May 2020 Other leading contenders included Buddy Gil (Santa Anita Derby),Buddy Gil profile http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=5308868&registry=T&rbt=TB Equibase 9 May 2020 Ten Most Wanted (Illinois Derby),Ten Most Wanted profile http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=5311184&registry=T&rbt=TB Equibase 9 May 2020 and Scrimshaw (Lexington Stakes).Scrimshaw profile http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=5371992&registry=T&rbt=TB Equibase 9 May 2020 Funny Cide was a moderate longshot at odds of 13:1. Bred in New York, Funny Cide won all three starts at age two in restricted stakes company and was named the New York bred champion two-year-old colt or gelding.Carson Hollow Named 2002 New York-Bred Horse of the Year https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/182842/carson-hollow-named-2002-new-york-bred-horse-of-the-year BloodHorse.com 9 May 2020 When moved to open stakes company at age three, he ran fifth in the Holy Bull Stakes to Offlee Wild, second to Peace Rules in the Louisiana Derby and second to Empire Maker in the Wood Memorial.Funny Cide profile http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=5388290&registry=T Equibase 9 May 2020 Move Over, Clyde! https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/182272/move-over-clyde BloodHorse.com 10 May 2020 Sir Cherokee was originally entered but was scratched by the track veterinarian. Full results Brancusi, Peace Rules and Eye of the Tiger went to the early lead and set moderately-fast fractions of 22.78 seconds for the first quarter mile and 46.23 for the first half. Funny Cide was bumped at the start but moved into tracking position going around the first turn while Empire Maker rated in eighth place. Peace Rules went to the lead on the far turn while Funny Cide moved into second and Empire Maker into third. Turning into the stretch, jockey José A. Santos went to the whip and Funny Cide opened a clear lead, then held on to win by 1 3 4 lengths. Empire Maker finished a head in front of stablemate Peace Rules for second. The time of 2:01.19 was the 10th fastest running in Derby history. The race set a number of firsts. Funny Cide was the first gelding to win the race since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929. It was the first time a New York-bred had won the Kentucky Derby. It was the first win for Santos in seven attempts, and the first for trainer Barclay Tagg. It was also the first major win for Funny Cide's owners, six friends from upper New York state who named their outfit Sackatoga Stable after their hometown Sackett's Harbor and favorite racetrack, Saratoga. "We are a three-horse stable", said one of the partners, Jackson Knowlton. "We are the little guys in the game. Everyone who dreams in this game, who owns two or five horses, look at what you can accomplish. Little did we know."Drape Joe Funny Cide Wins Kentucky Derby https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/03/sports/othersports/funny-cide-wins-kentucky-derby.html The New York Times 10 May 2020 3 May 2003 Finish Programnumber Horse Jockey TrainerOddsMarginEarnings 1 6 Funny Cide José A. Santos Barclay Tagg 12.80$800,200 2 12 Empire Maker Jerry Bailey Robert J. Frankel 2.501 3 4 lengths$170,000 3 5 Peace Rules Edgar Prado Robert J. Frankel6.301 3 4 lengths$85,000 4 4 Atswhatimtalknbout David R. Flores Ronald W. Ellis8.902 lengths$45,000 5 13 Eye of the Tiger Eibar Coa Jerry Hollendorfer 41.504 3 4 lengths 6 8 Buddy Gil Gary Stevens Jeff Mullins7.205 3 4 lengths 7 15 Outta Here Kent Desormeaux William Currin 39.706 1 2 lengths 8 14 Ten Cents a Shine Calvin Borel D. Wayne Lukas 37.207 1 2 lengths 9 16 Ten Most Wanted Pat Day Wallace Dollase 6.607 3 4 lengths 10 11 Domestic Dispute Alex Solis Patrick Gallagher 44.009 1 2 lengths 11 17 Scrimshaw Cornelio Velásquez D. Wayne Lukas16.5010 1 2 lengths 12 7 Offlee Wild Robby Albarado Thomas Smith 29.9011 1 2 lengths 13 1 Supah Blitz Rosemary Homeister Jr. Emanuel Tortora 43.1017 lengths 14 9 Indian Express Tyler Baze Bob Baffert 10.8018 3 4 lengths 15 10 Lone Star Sky Shane Sellers Thomas M. Amoss 52.1020 lengths 16 2 Brancusi Tony Farina Patrick Biancone 29.3021 lengths Track condition: Fast Times: 1 4 mile – 22.78; 1 2 mile – 46.23; 3 4 mile – 1:10.48; mile – 1:35.75; final – 2:01.19. Splits for each quarter-mile: (22.78) (23.45) (24.25) (25.27) (25.44) Source: Equibase Chart Payout The 129th Kentucky Derby Payout Schedule ProgramNumber Horse Name Win Place Show6 Funny Cide US$27.60 $12.40 $8.2012 Empire Maker - $5.80 $4.405 Peace Rules - - $6.00 $2 Exacta: (6-12) Paid $97.00 $2 Trifecta: (6-12-5) Paid $664.80 $1 Superfecta: (6-12-5-4) Paid $2,795.80http://d3b4lt1s53xf6k.cloudfront.net/sites/kentuckyderby.com/files/charts/2003.pdf Kentucky Derby 2003 Tables 2010-05-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20110723043716/http://d3b4lt1s53xf6k.cloudfront.net/sites/kentuckyderby.com/files/charts/2003.pdf 2011-07-23 dead Controversy On the Thursday after the race, the Miami Herald published a photo that supposedly showed Santos holding a "buzzer" (a device that administers an electric shock to horses, intended to make them run faster). The story became national news and prompted a meeting of the Churchill Downs' stewards. In the photo, there was a dark area between Santos' hand and the whip.Santos Meets With Stewards; Announcement Later Monday https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/182112/santos-meets-with-stewards-announcement-later-monday BloodHorse.com 10 May 2020 The Associated Press subsequently published another photo that clearly showed Santos held no such device: the dark area in the original photo may have been the green silks of the runner-up Empire Maker.AP Photo Clearly Shows There is No Object in Santos' Hand https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/182129/ap-photo-clearly-shows-there-is-no-object-in-santos-hand BloodHorse.com 10 May 2020 Santos was officially cleared a few days later. "I'm thankful this nightmare is over", he said. "A week ago was the happiest moment of my life, and then this photograph came along and nearly ruined my life."Scheinman John Funny Cide Jockey Cleared https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2003/05/13/funny-cide-jockey-cleared/b7e75633-8b83-4529-b199-65c45fa15a41/ Washington Post 10 May 2020 13 May 2003 Subsequent racing careers Several horses went on to record Grade I wins after the Derby: Funny Cide – Preakness Stakes, 2004 Jockey Club Gold Cup Empire Maker – Belmont Stakes Peace Rules – Haskell Invitational, 2004 Suburban Handicap Ten Most Wanted – Travers Stakes Offlee Wild – 2005 Suburban Handicap Subsequent breeding careers Leading progeny of participants in the 2003 Kentucky Derby Empire Maker Royal Delta – 2011 Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic, Alabama Stakes, 2012 Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic, Beldame Stakes, 2013 Delaware Handicap, Personal Ensign Pioneerof the Nile – 2009 Santa Anita Derby, 2nd in Kentucky Derby, 2008 CashCall Futurity Bodemeister – 2012 Arkansas Derby, 2nd in both Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes Emollient – 2013 Ashland Stakes, American Oaks, Spinster Stakes, 2014 Rodeo Drive Stakes Grace Hall – Spinaway Stakes Offlee Wild Bayern – 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic, Haskell Invitational She Be Wild – 2009 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies References 2003 Kentucky Derby Derby Category:May 2003 sports events in the United States Category:2003 in Louisville, Kentucky Kentucky