Distorted Humor, sire of Funny Cide and Drosselmeyer, dies
WinStar Farm’s pensioned sire Distorted Humor, a champion freshman sire and general sire who continues to influence the breed, was euthanized Saturday morning due to the infirmities of old age. He was 33 years old.
Distorted Humor helped WinStar scale new heights as a breeding operation and the esteemed stallion was represented by a plethora of top horses in an exceptional career at stud. From 23 crops, Distorted Humor sired 167 black-type winners and 72 graded-stakes winners. His runners have amassed earnings approaching $170 million.
“It’s a deeply sad day for all of us at WinStar Farm to lose a generational sire like Distorted Humor,” Elliott Walden, the president, CEO and racing manager of WinStar, said. “We take solace in the legacy he leaves behind. His sons and daughters have won on the biggest stages, and his daughters are proving to be exceptional producers. His impact on the breed is undeniable and will be felt for generations to come.”
Numbered among Distorted Humor’s top runners are Grade 1 winners Drosselmeyer, Funny Cide, Commentator, Any Given Saturday, Flower Alley, Hystericalady, Boisterous and Awesome Humor. Distorted Humor was also an influential broodmare sire. As a broodmare sire, he is responsible for such outstanding horses as North America’s all-time leading earner Arrogate ($17,422,600), international star Golden Sixty, 2025 Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street, Elate, Practical Joke, New Money Honey, as well as WinStar stallions Constitution, Life Is Good and Patch Adams. Distorted Humor was the leading broodmare sire of 2017.
Distorted Humor entered stud in 1999. He topped all freshman sires in 2002. He was North America’s leading general sire in 2011, the year his son Drosselmeyer captured the Breeders’ Cup Classic for WinStar. Drosselmeyer was also a classic winner, having won the 2010 Belmont Stakes. With over $3.7 million earned on track, Drosselmeyer remains Distorted Humor's leading earner.
In 2003, Distorted Humor’s son Funny Cide, bred by WinStar and campaigned by Sackatoga Stable, won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes on his way to a career bankroll of $3.5 million.
Distorted Humor is the sire of four champions: champion 3-year-old male Funny Cide, Ireland champion juvenile colt Pathfork, United Arab Emirates champion 3-year-old colt Regal Ransom and Canada champion female sprinter Hillaby.
A 1993 son of champion Forty Niner out of the Danzig mare Danzig’s Beauty, Distorted Humor was also an accomplished racehorse. Bred in Kentucky by Charles Nuckols Jr. and Sons and owned by R.L. Reineman and Prestonwood Farms and trained by Walden, Distorted Humor won the 1998 Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. He set a track record in the race, getting seven furlongs in 1:20.50, a mark that stood until 2020. He also captured the Churchill Downs Handicap (G2), Ack Ack Handicap (G3) the Salvator Mile Handicap (G3), amassing earnings of $769,964.