Why the NYRA nasal strip ban?

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I hear you about the other stuff, but IMO the nasal strip issue is a non one. If O'neill doesn't care that I'll Have Another can't wear it, why does anyone else?

And how come I have never seen one person talk about this non issue before right now?

The people behind the the strips seem to think it won't affect IHA's performance. We have no reason to think it'll be a problem either, but the ban added another variable where one need not exist. I doubt the strip is the reason IHA was 9 lengths ahead of Creative Cause in the Preakness. I think like anybody O'Neill would rather have access to it than not because why change things now? Changing the routine would be the reason he might care if he did.

As for why should we care...there seems to be good reason to make the exact opposite call that's been made about the strips. We care about horse equipment as a general rule, not to mention horse welfare, and from what I've read it makes little sense to ban them. Why are people fighting hard for lasix but not for non-medicinal preventive measures? It sounds like it improves the comfort of horses while they run. I'd say that takes it from non-issue to issue. I'm sure some people have cared about it for much longer but publications never made as big a deal. I know it's never been brought to my attention before.

I guess nobody's brought it up because crossing jurisdictions for an achievement like the Triple Crown makes things come up that might've taken longer to change. Would there be an obstacle preventing them from deciding to allow it starting right now? I don't know if there's some reason changes like this have to wait til a certain time to be implemented. I don't recall a Triple Crown being on the line with a horse using a nasal strip. Was there one?