I’ll Have Another will have to race without a nasal strip at the 2012 Belmont Stakes. He has worn the strip in each of his last seven races, but the minor piece of equipment is banned at New York Racing Association tracks. Trainer Doug O’Neill wasn’t worried at all about the potential impact on his horse’s chances to win the triple crown.
2012 Belmont Stakes: I’ll Have Another Will Race Without Nasal Strip
“We understand that this is the rule in New York and we’ll follow the rules,” O’Neill said. “But it will be a zero issue. He’s a freak. You could put a blindfold on him, and he’ll run his race. This will be his first race without one, but he’ll be fine.”
Equipment state regulation 4033.8 states that “only equipment specifically approved by the stewards shall be worn or carried by a jockey or a horse in a race.” The New York State Racing and Wagering Board actually approved the strips back in 1999, but the next month the NYRA maintained the ban when the regulation was re-evaluated.
The strips reportedly help reduce bleeding in horses by supporting soft nasal tissue during exercise. The strips aren’t banned in other states, and have never been an issue during human sporting events.
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