Before a near-record crowd, Funny Cide's attempt to win the Triple Crown was derailed by Empire Maker, who had finished second as the favorite in the Derby and had skipped the Preakness to train up to the Belmont.
Funny Cide won the 2003 Kentucky Derby in an upset, then turned in a dominating performance to win the Preakness.
He was considered to have an excellent chance in the Belmont, having beaten Funny Cide earlier in the year in the Wood Memorial.
It was a near-record for Belmont Park, just behind the 2002 attendance of 103,222 that watched Sarava upset War Emblem's Triple Crown bid.
"[4] Funny Cide became the ninth horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown, only to fall short in the Belmont.