Ok this is just my opinion but I think this fever thing is getting a bit blown out of preportion. When I worked for Lee Jolley if we raced a horse on a very hot day their temps were taken every other hr. and 101.2 was not a cause for calling the vet and throwing the horse on antibiotics as Lee’s opinion was that as long as the horse did not go off his feed and acted otherwise ok-HE WAS OK, after all their temps are naturally going to be slightly elevated in the heat and it was reported that Funny Cide never acted sick nor went off his feed even slightly. I’am thinking ole Tagg is using the “fever” as an excuse for the horses loss and maybe hes also looking for an excuse not to meet up with Empire Maker who not to take anything away from Funny Cide is in a lot of peoples opinion a better horse. I hope he does put him in the Travers to make it more interesting!
You are right DMK. There is such much PR involved with these big races that you never know if the trainer is saying what really happened, or how they want everyone to think it happened. Guess we will never know!
Momma Mia, here I go again…
For those up at Spa today (Wed 8/13) it will be “Funny Cide Day” per the NYRA 
Aside from being him being in the paddock in the late morning for the public to see, there were six people chosen from emails sent to Funny Cide’s website selected to have breakfast with Jack Knowlton and have a special tour of the Nat’l Museum of Racing. A rather nice thing to do for the fans in all honesty and more like a marketing page taken from the fan-friendly NASCAR playbook.
Times Union 8/13: “This horse has his day, Fans get to see Funny Cide today at Saratoga track”
Please disregard the somewhat monumental error in the story that says: “… their chance for an up-close-and-personal view of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner [sic] today…”
Ah, if only …
Ah, but Himbo who is playing games now … would it be Bobby Frankel himself? Now he says that Empire Maker is not 100% - he’s coughing, has a little mucus in his lungs and if he’s scratched for the Travers then he’ll do the PA Derby.
Is he really less than 100%? Or is this just a ploy to draw Tagg into keeping FC in the Travers hoping a “weakened” EM can be more easily beat - all the while EM’s at peak strength … mind games galore.
DRF 8/21: “‘Empire’ coughs and field expands”
Funny Cide’s official entry in this race at least means 60,000 + fans in those seats vs. 40,000 if it was just Empire Maker and the “also rans”.
While I focusing on getting over myself as suggested by Himbo 
I did spy this in the Sunday paper (below) - it looks very unlikely for Funny Cide to run next Saturday at the Travers …
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>The horse has been eating all of his food according to the head vet at the track so I don’t know where you are getting your info from.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I read that in an article on the Blood-Horse website and in another article somewhere else (can’t remember where). The exact quote is “Tagg said this week that he didn’t like the results of a blood test and that the horse hasn’t been eating all his food.” You can see the whole article right here
Why are you convinced that there is a Funny Cide conspiracy theory?
“There are three kinds of men. The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.” - Will Rogers
The Wood was the final Derby prep for EM and FC. EM won by about 1/2 length. FC was game, fighting back inside after being passed. many thought that it was an easy win for EM and that he was really easing up under the wire. I knew better and bet FC in the Derby, but not heavily. 
It looks like my “informant” was right, EM and FC are now BOTH out of the Travers.
Ash- Spend a Buck won the Derby then skipped the Preakness because he was eligible for a big bonus should he go to the Jersey Derby. He was not considered likely for the Belmont anyhow because he was a bleeder and Lasix was not permitted in NY at the time.
Racing fans like rivalries and rematches. Trainers usually don’t. The old adage around the track is that you want to keep “yourself in the best of company and your horse in the worst” rings true. You want your horse in the easiest spots, all the better to bring home the money.
Resident racing historian
Founder of the Mighty Thoroughbred Clique
If what you’re saying is correct, then both FC and EM can join the “weenie ranks” along side Vindication. AWA many others (dare I count, since this maddness started in the 70’s)
But, should they (excluding FC, of course) not prove themselves at stud within 3-4 years, maybe they will ALL get “lucky”, and be sold to (fill-in-yer-favorite) trans-continental area. Where, according to more “expert” posters, they will be treated as kings, and live untill their 30’'s
Oh, wait. I forgot: This is 2003, and things are done differently now.
'WAY different.
After all; racing these days is ONLY about money-money-MONEY.
What the hell happened to the sport? When/How/Why did we ever let the money-marketers in charge? Who know NOTHING about horses, or the “sport” of racing?
<getting off soap-box now: didn’t mean to “take-over” thread. please excuse my vent> or not
- 'lips
(the “original” barn fairy)
“The horse; he is stamping, his warm breath a’clouding:
But the Master of the house is far away…”
from The Blood Horse:
"Funny Cide Among Eight Entered For Travers
by Steve Haskin
Date Posted: 8/20/03 12:39:31 PM
Last Updated: 8/20/03 1:17:54 PM
A field of eight passed the entry box Wednesday morning for the $1 million Travers Stakes. How many will run is a another story. The big news was Funny Cide entering after two weeks of “doubtfuls” and “highly unlikelys,” from trainer Barclay Tagg.
The other big story was Bobby Frankel entering both Empire Maker and Peace Rules, although only one will run. Unless something happens to Empire Maker, Peace Rules will run in the Sept. 1 Pennsylvania Derby. Although many were surprised to see Funny Cide show up in the entries, they shouldn’t have been."
Read the entire article here. Should be a good race.
Here’s the complete Travers field:
1-- Congrats (Mike Luzzi, 15-1)
2-- Strong Hope (John Velazquez, 4-1)
3A-- Peace Rules (Jerry Bailey, 8-5)
4-- Ten Most Wanted (Pat Day, 6-1)
5A-- Empire Maker (Jerry Bailey, 8-5)
6-- Wild and Wicked (Shane Sellers, 20-1)
7-- Funny Cide (Jose Santos, 3-1)
8-- Sky Mesa (Edgar Prado, 4-1)
Go Sackatogians!!
Joan S.
Photo Albums
Whoa DMK! I wasn’t suggesting that you said Empire Maker sat out the Preakness due to a bruised foot (and I am sorry if I made it sound that way) I was referring to this article:
Frankel Finally Wins Triple Crown Race
BETH HARRIS
Associated Press
NEW YORK - It took 37 years, a couple of near-misses and a lot of patience until trainer Bobby Frankel won his first Triple Crown race.
Empire Maker had let him down by finishing second to Funny Cide in the Kentucky Derby. Then the colt couldn’t run in the Preakness because of a bruised foot.
So Frankel had five weeks until the Belmont Stakes. He quietly trained Empire Maker and listened to the growing chorus of praise for Funny Cide, who won the Preakness.
and many others like it who said exactly that
“Empire Maker had let him down by finishing second to Funny Cide in the Kentucky Derby. Then the colt couldn’t run in the Preakness because of a bruised foot.”
So, based on what I read and the whole uproar about the bruised foot before and after the Derby, I think something is a little “off” so to speak…
Momma Mia, here I go again…
[This message was edited by Ash on Aug. 20, 2003 at 03:58 PM.]
Were you there when he had Mogambo by any chance?
“Vanitas vanitatum et omina vanitas”
Himbo-what is so hard for you to understand?? 
FC’s trainer doesn’t think he is ‘quite right’ and feels he needs his horse to be 100% to beat Empire Maker (whom we all KNOW he beat in the Derby when he was 100%)
NO ONE knows a horse quite like the trainer/rider, so what may seem normal for one horse can be abnormal for another. I think Tagg is not only a great trainer but pretty damn intelligent as well! Can’t quite figure out why you are having such a hard time “grasping” this…
Momma Mia, here I go again…
Ok this is just my opinion but I think this fever thing is getting a bit blown out of preportion. When I worked for Lee Jolley if we raced a horse on a very hot day their temps were taken every other hr. and 101.2 was not a cause for calling the vet and throwing the horse on antibiotics as Lee’s opinion was that as long as the horse did not go off his feed and acted otherwise ok-HE WAS OK, after all their temps are naturally going to be slightly elevated in the heat and it was reported that Funny Cide never acted sick nor went off his feed even slightly. I’am thinking ole Tagg is using the “fever” as an excuse for the horses loss and maybe hes also looking for an excuse not to meet up with Empire Maker who not to take anything away from Funny Cide is in a lot of peoples opinion a better horse. I hope he does put him in the Travers to make it more interesting!
Saudi Mogambo ws there when I was there but I only saw him briefly because at that time Jolley had 2 strings going. I did get to take care of Genuine Risk who was a really sweet mare to work! Temperance Hill was across the way from us in Belmont.
Let’s just say for the sake of argument that FC’s connections don’t want to run against Empire Maker because they don’t think they can out run him. What’s the problem? Isn’t it a trainer’s job to run a horse where he has the best possibility of winning?
Two Toofs
(formerly - but still - NDANO)
The horse has been eating all of his food according to the head vet at the track so I don’t know where you are getting your info from. Tagg also made an interesting comment on WTEN Channel 13 that “It’s unlikely the horse will run unless something happens to someone” Now why would the horse run if someone drops out and who would this someone be that Tagg would run Funny Cide if they dropped out??? Sorry been around too long at the track to not think Tagg is holding the horse back because of the previous disappointing race. If the vets are saying the horse is within normal range on everything and even Tagg says the blood etc. is normal and then come out with a comment like he did on the news then I have to think Tagg does not want to meet up with certain horses right yet. I live in Saratoga and alot of my friends are still working the backstretch and think its Tagg playing chicken.
Saudi I worked for Jolley in the 1980’s at Belmont also worked for Joe Cantey,Red Terrell,and Charlie Whittingham for a short while. When I was with Jolley we were in Belmont,Saratoga,and then Ky for 6 weeks before going to Fla. I also worked for a Sandi Duboise in Camden SC for a winter breaking babies before I went back to the track for a short time. My opinion still stands with this Funny Cide “temp” and hope he goes in the Travers but even if he does not he will still meet up with EM sometime somewhere. I’am not dissing Funny Cide at all, I know Joe McMahon who bred and raised him very well and its a good shot in the arm for his business. The horse is galloping now so I’am thinking he will run if hes ok.
Oh and Himbo, you done good dumping Club Foot…err Car Lady…who knows how many pages of the pedigree you would have to carry around just to FIND the BLACK TYPE! It would be like carrying around a NYC Phonebook!
Betsy
www.threewindsfarmny.com
Lead, follow, or get out of the way…
Well, the “is he or isn’t he” question certainly does keep the press going. The latest suggests “maybe” to the question of entering (not necessarily racing) - although that isn’t from Tagg:
Daily Racing Form 8/18: “Funny Cide may enter”
To the question of his health, quote, “The most recent blood test on Funny Cide revealed a slightly elevated white blood count.”
Himbo, I’m begining to think you are really Bobby Frankel just using an altar
Kidding aside, at the end of the day isn’t this somewhat just all part of the silly prelude to a big match that is part of racing? I’d love Funny Cide to race if he is physically and mentally ready. That horse without being romantic or sentimental beat Empire Maker fair and square in the Derby and would’ve done the same on the fast track at the Preakness had Bobby entered him.
If that same horse for those two legs was back again then betting on Funny Cide for a Travers win would be a no brainer. Obviously that same well conditioned and mentally fit horse doesn’t appear to be quite here just yet. By Saturday? Well, like Tagg has been saying just “maybe”.
