David Mahan, a member of Sackatoga Stable that raced 2003 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Funny Cide, died Jan. 14 of brain cancer in Waterbury, Conn. He was 61.
A caterer by profession, Mahan raced Funny Cide with fellow stable members Jack Knowlton, Gus Williams, Lew Titterton, Eric Dattner, Mark Phillips, Jon Constance, Peter Phillips, and Larry Reinhardt. The outfit endeared itself to the everyday racing fans by riding in a school bus to Churchill Down for the Kentucky Derby. Sent off at 12-1, Funny Cide won by 1 3/4 lengths to become the first gelding to win the race since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.
Funny Cide next won the Preakness, but missed becoming the 12th Triple Crown when he ran third in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) over a sloppy track.
Funny Cide was voted champion 3-year-old male. He continued to race as an older runner and was retired in 2007 with $3.5 million in earnings. He resides at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington.