MB: "the nasal strips proved their worth. The main problem I see is that they are illegal in 47 states. We need that to change for a huge market."
Somebody said that on TV, and then it got repeated in the press, but that is not true at all.
The only states where one can't use the nasal strip "Flair" in a race is NY and CA, and those ought to change reasonably soon. The only issue in CA is whether or how people will be informed before the race. NY is dragging its heels the way it always does; it is highly bureaucratic, and was the last state to approve Lasix. Even in CA and NY it is OK to use the strip for workouts, which wouldn't be the case if they thought that there was even the slightest reason to believe that the strips were bad for horses.
As far as the rest of the country and Canada goes, it is perfectly fine to use the strip everywhere, and it has already been used in many states in the few weeks it has been on the market. All that is required is that the steward be informed before the race.
When you see a race like the BC Classic, where not only does 20-1 Cat Thief win, but 75-1 Golden Missile comes in third and 63-1 Chester House comes in fourth, leaving a field of mostly non-Flair using horses behind, there is something very impressive going on. |
