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NYRA To Honor Funny Cide At Saratoga

The New York Racing Association will pay tribute to GI Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide (Distorted Humor), one of the most successful and popular New York-breds of all time, on New York Showcase Day, Aug. 27, at Saratoga Race Course.

Funny Cide, who died earlier this summer due to complications from colic, earned more than $3.5 million during his six-year career, including when he became the first New York-bred to win the “Run for the Roses”. He was later named the 2003 Eclipse Award winner for Champion 3-Year-Old Colt.

“Few of us will ever forget Funny Cide's remarkable 2003 season, which helped shine a light on the growing success of the New York-bred program,” said NYRA President & CEO Dave O'Rourke. “NYRA is honored to celebrate his life and career on this most appropriate of days: New York Showcase Day at Saratoga.”

Funny Cide's remains will be buried at Saratoga during a brief ceremony starting at 11 a.m. inside Gate C and just a short distance from the horse path. Saratoga Race Course will be the final resting place for the two-time New York-bred Horse of the Year.

“Funny Cide was instrumental in helping to elevate the New York-bred program to national prominence and was a fan favorite wherever he ran,” said Najja Thompson, executive director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “His connection to the city of Saratoga Springs extends beyond being foaled locally at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds and campaigned by Sackatoga Stable. Residents of the city and racing fans understand the great impact he made on our sport. It is an honor to have him recognized on New York Showcase Day and for visitors to Saratoga Race Course to be able to pay their respects to him going forward.”

Funny Cide's connections, Sackatoga Managing Partner Jack Knowlton, trainer Barclay Tagg, assistant trainer Robin Smullen and Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos, will be on hand to sign an array of memorabilia, including Funny Cide posters and bobbleheads, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Jockey Silks Porch. Suggested donations will benefit the Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST) and the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, a pair of non-profit organizations dedicated to the care and well-being of members of NYRA's backstretch community.

Later in the afternoon, following the annual running of the Funny Cide S. presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, NYRA will present a video compilation of his career. Funny Cide retired in 2007 and resided at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, until the time of his passing in mid-July.

“Sackatoga Stable is most appreciative of NYRA's recognition of the impact Funny Cide has had on and off the track throughout his storied career,” said Knowlton. “We are particularly proud of the impact he has had on the New York-bred program in its growth since his 2003 Kentucky Derby victory. Always a fan favorite, it is particularly fitting that Funny Cide's remains will be buried at Saratoga Race Course in a place where fans can remember the 'Gutsy Gelding.'”

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Holding On For Dear Life, Abel Lezcano Survives Scary Incident At Hawthorne

Abel Lezcano put on an incredible show of courage and athleticism at Hawthorne Race Course near Chicago on Sunday, holding on for dear life after his right stirrup broke while he was battling for the lead in the third race aboard the 5-year-old gelding Christmas Present.

The duo started from the No. 1 post position in the one-mile, 70-yard claiming race on the main track, with Christmas Present taking the early advantage on his rivals. As Christmas Present rounded the clubhouse turn into the backstretch while engaged with Blooming Garden for the lead, Lezcano virtually disappeared from the camera view after the right stirrup suddenly gave out.

The next day, Lezcano told the Paulick Report he heard a loud snap, and suddenly his right foot was without a stirrup, adding that he had just purchased the equipment. The stirrup, he said, was made from a carbon material.

Track announcer Peter Galassi was momentarily confused, not sure if Lezcano had been thrown from the mount, but then saying “the rider is out of the saddle but is still with the horse… a little confusing there, didn't see him. Thought he was off, but he was on. … Just a tremendous job by Abel Lezcano to keep aboard that horse.”

The head-on patrol films showed Lezcano, pitched onto the right side of his mount, clinging onto the neck of Christmas Present, who continued to run at full speed. For more than 10 seconds, Lezcano struggled to get back atop the horse, finally pulling himself back aboard Christmas Present, who gradually dropped back while racing close to the rail.

Lezcano continued his way around the course riding bareback style, his legs wrapped around the horse, until an outrider caught up with him as he trailed the field down the stretch.

Lezcano may have been shaken by the incident, but he came back to ride the next four races on Sunday's card, going out a winner in the seventh-race finale with a stretch-running victory aboard Maneuver.

On Sunday night, Lezcano posted the following message on the social media site formerly known as Twitter:

Thank God I'm only sore but glad didn't fall or hurt anybody. By the grace of the lord I'm here and will continue working hard https://t.co/Sjcq7yIcfX

— Abel Lezcano (@AbelLezcano_507) August 20, 2023

A 33-year-old native of Panama, Lezcano has won 448 races since coming to the U.S. in 2009. One of those victories was aboard Nancy From Nairobi in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita in 2016.

A similar incident occurred at Golden Gate Fields in 1989 when jockey Nate Hubbard was unseated after his mount Sweetwater Oak stumbled in deep stretch on a muddy track. Hubbard hung on to the mare's neck for the final dozen strides and won a photo finish for second. Because Hubbard did not touch the ground while dangling from Sweetwater Oak's neck, no rules were violated and the result was allowed to stand.

The post Holding On For Dear Life, Abel Lezcano Survives Scary Incident At Hawthorne appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Inducted Into QIPCO British Champions Hall of Fame

The late Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah has been posthumously inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, and is just the second person to be recognised within the Special Contributor category. He follows in the footsteps of 2021 inductee Queen Elizabeth II. Chosen by an independent panel of experts, in recognition of his contribution to the sport, his achievements through the breeding and racing operation Juddmonte leave a lasting legacy. The Prince's induction will be officially marked through a special presentation at York Racecourse on Wednesday, Aug. 23, the same day as the G1 Juddmonte International S., a race that Juddmonte has supported since 1989.

Crowning his achievements and influence on the racing landscape is the venerable Frankel (GB), flawless in his career and crowned Champion sire in 2021, as well as globetrotting wondermare, Enable (GB). Juddmonte-owned horses have won 76 races thus far in 2023 with Group or Grade I wins from Elite Power, Whitebeam (GB), Westover (GB), Chaldean (GB), and Set Piece (GB).

“Prince Khalid was an owner-breeder like no other, with his numerous cherished champions, including perhaps the greatest thoroughbred of them all in Frankel. Through his racing and breeding operation, Juddmonte, the Prince has left a legacy which, now under the direction of his sons, Prince Fahad, Prince Saud and Prince Ahmed, continues to have a massive influence on the sport globally, at the same time as giving great pleasure and entertainment to his family,” said Douglas Erskine Crum, Chief Executive of Juddmonte.

“Prince Khalid would have been very pleased to be recognised by the British horse racing industry in this way and, on behalf of his whole family, I thank British racing and the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame for this exceptional accolade.”

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Horseshoe Indianapolis Adjusts Post Times, Race Days Due to Extreme Heat

Horseshoe Indianapolis has moved up its first post Wednesday to 10 a.m. and has moved its entire Thursday card to next Monday due to excessive heat warnings for Central Indiana this week.

“Safety for our equine athletes and all the individuals who work outdoors during our racing program always comes first at Horseshoe Indianapolis,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “After reviewing weather predictions for this week that includes excessive heat warnings, we want to be proactive and get the necessary changes in place. We wanted to avoid any cancellations of racing days as our horsemen work hard to get their horses ready to race and a cancellation directly impacts their business operations. We feel by moving post times and racing dates, it should be a better environment for everyone involved.”

Live racing will go on as planned Tuesday, with its scheduled 2:30 p.m. first post time.

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