In honor of an incredible racehorse and old friend, Stewart’s Shops is bringing back a former fan favorite ice cream flavor called “Funny Cide Pride”. This flavor will be available at select shops in Saratoga County while supplies lasts.
“Funny Cide Pride” will be available at the ice cream counter for a limited time. This is a butter pecan ice cream with a fudge swirl, chunks of fudge and pecans!
Gary Dake, President of Stewart’s Shops said, “Funny Cide Pride is a sweet nod to the amazing racehorse, Funny Cide, and a flavor that was a big hit among his fans 20 years ago. He was such a huge part of our local racing community, and this ice cream celebrates the cherished memories he created with a taste that brings back all the pride and joy we felt back then.”
It’s important to note that this flavor is appearing in Shops now to honor the notable life and career Funny Cide had. This impressive chestnut horse passed away on July 16th, 2023, at age 23. Funny Cide spent the last 15 years of his life in retirement on a horse farm in Kentucky.
So, who was Funny Cide and what was this famous racehorse’s story?
Funny Cide was a very young horse acquired by a group of high school friends from Sackets Harbor, NY who wanted to pick up horse racing as a hobby. No one would’ve expected this “horse of the people” to win several big races and ultimately bring home $3.6 million in winnings throughout his career.
In 2003, the Kentucky Derby saw an unexpected triumph when Funny Cide, a 12-1 underdog, defeated the favorite, Empire Maker, becoming the first-ever New York-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby and wear the iconic “blanket of roses.” He continued his winning streak by claiming victory at the Preakness Stakes, making him the 30th horse in history to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Despite immense support from 100,000 fans at The Belmont Stakes, Funny Cide finished third, missing the Triple Crown by just five lengths. Nevertheless, his courageous journey and unexpected victories resonated with racing enthusiasts worldwide, proving that even underdogs could achieve greatness and leave an enduring legacy in horse racing.
Funny Cide’s career ended in 2007 accumulating other notable wins and eventually entered the Hall of Champions In 2008.
This flavor will also be featured at a Saratoga Springs restaurant located right outside of the Saratoga Racetrack at Siro’s on 8/16/23.
Celebrate the memory of this fantastic racehorse with the limited-edition flavor “Funny Cide Pride” in select shops!