Funny Cide, 2000-2023.
In 2003, I had the insane luck of getting a more or less 'all access' pass to the Kentucky Derby. Throughout the day, we poked around Millionaire's Row, went to the paddock, hung out behind the scenes in the corporate offices, and explored the infield. When it came to watching the race, we could have done it from anywhere we wanted.
That was right before the renovations, so at the time there was a catwalk above the grandstand along the Twin Spires. It was accessible by ladder, and the only people who had permission to be up there were photographers...and us. It was a stunning bird's eye view of the track, and there was no question THAT'S where we wanted to see the race from.
A security guard tried to throw us out, but we had a pass that said we could go anywhere, and we wanted to go there, so we did.
It was magic. We watched Funny Cide storm home from the top of the world. I was no professional photographer, and I was still shooting film at the time, but I took my place along the railing with all the other seasoned shutterbugs and got my photo. I even developed those negatives and made the print myself.
It was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget, and as such, I will never forget Funny Cide.
I got to visit him in the summer of 2019. He looked phenomenal.
I'm going to miss him.
