Hoss Talk

Because they did the nearly impossible, we should all take our hats off to Sackatoga Stable's gallant Funny Cide for winning Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

Going into the Derby, Funny Cide was a winner of $439,000 US. By day's end, he went back to the barn $700,000 richer.

Not a bad buy, considering Funny Cide was purchased for only $22,000 by six high school friends from upstate New York who, despite huge odds, fulfilled a lifelong dream of winning the Kentucky Derby.

When the first Kentucky Derby was run 129 years ago, the number of foals registered annually was 3,995. That figure has jumped astronomically.

In 2001, the year Funny Cide was born, he was one of 36,700 registered foals.

From1990 to 1999 there were 375,117 foals born. Of that number, only 10 horses were good enough to win the Kentucky Derby. Just as astonishing is the fact only 167 horses even made it to the starting gate in that race.

If you think spending big dollars buys a classic winner, forget it.

Since the late 1970s, Sheikh Mohammed and the Maktoum family of Dubai have spent some $1 billion on racehorses with the goal of winning the Kentucky Derby. They have yet to achieve that goal.

Of the more than 100 yearlings sold for more than $1-million US, only Fusaichi Pegasus went on to win a Kentucky Derby (2000). His owner, Fussao Sekiguchi, paid $4 million to purchase the youngster.

STRETCH DRIVE

Saturday's feature race at Hastings, the $40,000 Fair Lady Stakes, was won by TNT Stables Dancewithavixen, ridden by Felippe Valdez. Coming from off the pace, Dancewithavixen ran down pacesetter Dee's Love to win by two lengths. Wagering on the day totalled $630,442 ... Former B.C. Horse of the Year, Linda & Red Smith's Fancy As, won his season debut in the Stampede Park Sprint Championship in Calgary.

twolski@shaw.ca

Tom Wolski can be seen on the Sport of Kings, 11 a.m. Saturdays on Citytv
 
 

Edition: Final 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Source: Vancouver Province
E-mail Tommy Wolski at twolski@home.com