Belmont Goes All Out With Security Measures

Belmont park and the New York State Racing and Wagering Board have upped the ante for security at the Belmont. Beginning June 6, all horses entered in the race (June 9) will have to be stabled in a "stakes" barn and all personnel going in and out will have to record their comings and goings in a log. The list of regulations is quite specific and includes the requirement that all horses have their blood tested upon arrival at the barn in what is known as an out-of-competition blood test.

These are some of the other protocols according to Bloodhorse:

-Administrative searches and checks of all equipment, feed, hay, bales, etc.

--Limited and controlled veterinary access/monitoring of veterinary approach to an entered horse. All veterinarians will be logged in and escorted.

--Guards will be placed at each open doorway and doors will be kept closed with one entry point only.

--NYRA will assign additional security guards to the stakes barn at all times beginning June 6 through the running of the race.

--Thoroughbred Racing Protecting Bureau (TRPB) will provide investigators June 7, remaining on site through the running of the Belmont Stakes.

--No food and beverage for human consumption will be allowed in or around stall space

--Horses will be identified upon arrival and assigned to a specific (numbered) stall.

--Lasix administration will take place in designated stalls only by a NYRA veterinarian.

And here's the biggies:

--On June 8, no vets will treat horses without first making an appointment with RWB investigators. On June 9, treatment will only be permitted for emergency or by agreement with the Stewards.

We all know why they are doing this: to make sure that if a Triple Crown is attained, no one will cry foul, especially in lieu of trainer Doug O'Neill's recent 45 day suspension for drug violations.

But other trainers, like Dale Romans (Dullahan) and Michael Matz (Union Rags) are less thrilled with the prospect of keeping all the entrants together. "They are not cars that you can just go and move from one garage to the next,'' Romans said. ``These are creatures of habit. They like being where they are.

``The biggest problem we have in our game is the disconnect between the regulators of the game and the reality of what goes on on the backside (barn area).''

The problem for Matz seems to be more logistical. He wanted to make sure Union Rags' training was not interrupted on track at Fair Hill in Maryland and that he could get his horse to Belmont by the noon deadline on June 6. According to Bloodhorse, Matz plans to train Union Rags early at Fair Hill on June 6 (5:30 AM) and have him cooled out and on the van by 7:00, hoping to avoid too much rush hour traffic.

This extra tight security and detention protocol for three days before a race is a first and hopefully a last since I think it is going to be prove to be more of a PR move than anything else. But it does remind trainers that a lot of eyes are going to be on their every move, whether they like it or deserve it.