Funny Cide was the first and only New York-bred gelding to win the Kentucky Derby. But losing at Belmont was disappointing, for a couple of reasons. "It worked out to about $5.5 million dollars worth of disappointment," [Jack Knowlton] said. "But it was also disappointing because if Funny Cide had won, he would have been one of the most famous horses in history. It hadn't been done since 1978."

Funny Cide's last race was July 4, 2007 at Finger Lake's Race Track near Rochester, N.Y. "They asked us to come out," said Knowlton. "We ran a mile-and-an-eighth and won, and they got more than 12,000 people to come out and watch, more than they ever had before. That was when we decided that would be his last race. Funny Cide would go out a winner."

"When [Bette Middler]'s song reached, 'Did you ever know that you're my hero?'," [Tim Wilkin] went on, "and Funny was looking strong and regal, it hit the Sackatoga guys like a tidal wave. Knowlton was Niagara Falls, tears streaming down his cheek. He was watching his best pal being adored."