NYSRWB Installs Strict Protocols for Belmont Stakes Horses

[TouchOfGrey]

DRF's Jay Privman (@DRFPrivman) tweets:

Even though Michael Matz has Union Rags in the Belmont, no one from NYRA or NYSRWB had bothered to tell him about the mandate.

Matz was planning on shipping Thurs. When I told him Union Rags needed to be on grounds by noon Wed, he said, "I guess we're coming Wed."

Matz: "Jesus, do they make this stuff up as they go along?"

[Riot]

Originally Posted by TouchOfGrey

DRF's Jay Privman (@DRFPrivman) tweets:

Matz: "Jesus, do they make this stuff up as they go along?"

LOL - Matz was an international Olympic-level rider for years. He knows all about strict drug testing, rules filled with minutia, horse access limitations, quarantines, permitted medications and withdrawal times, etc. Hard to unimpress someone that's used to this sort of thing. But they've done it.

Maybe the TB world could take some lessons from those that are further ahead in the drug testing game. But I'm glad to see them do this. I'm sure they sat down with O'Neill and said, "Don't you DARE test positive and ruin our TC"

[Cannon Shell]

While the regulations are a bit over the top this is really a non-issue for the most part.