LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 20, 2026) – The Kentucky Horse Park will host a statue dedication ceremony honoring Funny Cide, the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony will take place at the park’s iconic Hall of Champions barn, where Funny Cide spent his retirement and delighted fans for 15 years.
Funny Cide captured the hearts of racing fans across the nation as the first New York-bred gelding to win the Kentucky Derby and the first New York-bred to claim victory in the Preakness Stakes, igniting hopes of a Triple Crown run in 2003. Owned by Sackatoga Stable, a partnership of friends from Sackets Harbor, New York, his story resonated far beyond the racetrack, becoming a symbol of the everyday fan’s place in the sport of kings. The new statue will serve as a lasting tribute to Funny Cide’s remarkable career and his enduring legacy at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The bronze sculpture was created by artist Shelley Hunter, whose work is also featured along the park’s Memorial Walk of Champions, including tributes to Alysheba, John Henry, and Staying Together.
The ceremony will include remarks from Kentucky Horse Park President Lee Carter, Sackatoga Stable’s Jack Knowlton, and Hall of Champions Manager Rob Willis, followed by the unveiling of the statue. Light refreshments will follow. The public is invited to attend and celebrate the remarkable life and lasting legacy of one of racing’s most beloved champions.