Horse nasal strips: California Chrome gets OK for use in Triple Crown
Horse nasal strips figured in California Chrome's surge to victory in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. But until Monday, it wasn't clear that officials would allow them in his June 7 run for the Belmont Stakes.
Horse nasal strips figured in California Chrome's surge to victory in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. But until Monday, it wasn't clear that officials would allow them in his June 7 run for the Belmont Stakes.
California Chrome can bring his nasal strips to Belmont, officials announced Monday.
The three stewards who govern Belmont Park unanimously agreed Monday to allow horses to wear equine nasal strips, according to a joint statement issued by the New York State Gaming Commission and The New York Racing Association.
Chrome鈥檚 trainer, Art Sherman, said Sunday that the owners were prepared to pull the horse from the June 7 Belmont Stakes 鈥� the third jewel of the Triple Crown 鈥� if New York racing officials had refused to grant permission for the horse to wear the adhesive strips.
鈥淭he horse has been on a six-race winning streak with nasal strips. I don鈥檛 know why they would ban you from wearing one, but we鈥檒l have to cross that bridge when we get there, I guess,鈥� Mr. Sherman told reporters聽Sunday morning,聽before the gaming commission and the racing association announced their decision.
Sherman started affixing the nasal strips to the horse's muzzle at the request of co-owner Perry Martin,聽ESPN reports.
The nasal strips are similar to those worn by humans to open nasal passages and improve air flow.
鈥淚 think it opens up his air passage and gives him that extra little oomph that he needs, especially going a mile and a half,鈥澛燬herman explained. 鈥淎nytime you can have a good air passage, that means a lot for these thoroughbreds.鈥�
I鈥檒l Have Another, the last horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, also wore nasal strips, but his handlers had been told he would have to forgo them in the Belmont Stakes,聽USA Today reports.
The commission鈥檚 thoroughbred rule does not specifically prohibit nasal strips but states, 鈥淥nly equipment specifically approved by the stewards shall be worn or carried by a jockey or a horse in a race.鈥�
The New York State Gaming Commission issued a statement on Sunday saying it had not yet received a request for the breathing aids from California Chrome鈥檚 handlers.
鈥滻f a request to use nasal strips is made, the decision on whether to permit them or not will be fully evaluated and determined by the stewards,鈥� the聽statement read.
Stephen Lewandowski of the gaming commission, one of three stewards in charge of this year鈥檚 Belmont Stakes, is new to the post since the ruling on I鈥檒l Have Another鈥檚 request, according to聽USA Today.