Social media blows up during post-Belmont Stakes exit fiasco (PHOTOS)

As a crowd reported at 102,199 left the racetrack in Elmont, Long Island en masse after Tonalist ended California Chrome's Triple Crown hopes at the Belmont Stakes, some attendees took to social media to describe what they called a massive traffic jam both in the parking lot and on the rails.

Three hours after tearing up their losing tickets, frustrated railbirds were still in a state of denial as they tried to exit the overcrowded parking lot.

Some said they suffered through delays for hours, using terms like "nightmare" and "gridlock" to describe the exodus.

After not learning a thing from the MetLife Super Bowl transportation fiasco, it seems Belmont and local authorities left fans on their own and banging their iPhones during a nightmare traffic jam and while standing on long lines for nonexistent public transportation.

Even hardened veterans of the Long Island Expressway and LIRR were in a state of exit rage.

So yea Belmont was such a good time so was off-roading the q5 to skip some traffic.... But sitting in this for 2 ... pic.twitter.com/gRwb7bka15
— Samuel Talavera (@SamuelTlvr) June 8, 2014

Belmont blue parking lot is a disaster. Hundreds of idling cars. No rhyme or reason to where people are going. People can't find their cars.
— Jim Baumbach (@jimbaumbach) June 8, 2014

People straight up leaving their cars since there hasn't been movement in about half hour. I'd sleep here were I not afraid for my life.
— Laura Albanese (@AlbaneseLaura) June 8, 2014

Hour 3 of @TheNYRA Belmont abandonment in parking lot. Still no way out. We are about to elect our own government.
— Rob Westervelt (@slakboy) June 8, 2014

Line to get to LIRR leaving Belmont Park. A cop just said the trains were closed. The best way out is on horseback.. pic.twitter.com/Vx65r5IfDG
— Antoine Gara (@AntoineGara) June 8, 2014

Racehorse dies at Belmont while wearing nasal strip: Report

The first day after nasal strips were allowed to be worn by racehorses at Belmont Park, See the Music, a 3-year-old filly, collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack on the track.

The over-sized breathing aid has gotten a lot of attention in the past couple of weeks because of California Chrome’s run for the Triple Crown.

The nasal strips were approved jointly Monday by the New York Racing Association, the New York State Gaming Commission and the Jockey Club, allowing California Chrome to try for his sweep of the Triple Crown on June 7 in the Belmont Stakes.

On Wednesday, See the Music died.

California Chrome wore the nasal strips to victory in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, but his connections were thinking of possibly skipping the Belmont if the colt wasn’t allowed to wear one in New York.

Prior to Monday’s approval, New York was the only racing jurisdiction that didn’t allow the strip to be worn through rule 4033.8 in the Gaming Commission: Only equipment specifically approved by the stewards shall be worn or carried by a jockey or a horse in a race.

See the Music’s body was sent to Cornell University, where a necropsy was performed.

“We are awaiting necropsy results,” said Lee Park, a spokesman for the gaming commission. 

“There is no reason to believe that wearing a nasal strip would contribute to a sudden death of a horse.”

The Gaming Commission’s medical director, Scott E. Palmer, cleared the way for the strips to be used in New York in a statement that read, “Equine nasal strips do not enhance equine performance nor do they pose a risk to equine health or safety and as such do not need to be regulated.”

Riderless horse 'wins' sixth-race at Belmont (VIDEO)

A determined mare bucked her jockey at the starting gate Wednesday and still managed to win the race without the burden of the tiny man and his forceful hand on her back.

Six-year-old Downtown Hottie broke free of her whip-holding rider during the sixth race at Belmont Park and the liberated lady still managed to gallop to victory.

The racetrack's "official results," listed her as having not finished the race and a filly named "Wholelottashakin" won with a final time of 1:35 but we all know who the real winner in this video is.

A-Rod the racehorse strikes out again

It hasn't been a very good week for anyone or anything named A-Rod.

While the New York Yankees slugger got benched at Comerica Park during the ALCS, his equine counterpart finished seventh in an eight-horse field at Belmont Park on Wednesday.

In his first start since Feb. 18, the four-legged A-Rod — a 4-year-old gelding who shares the nickname with baseball's Alex Rodriguez at an unfortunate time — broke last from the gate and trailed most of the race.  He finished 10-1/4 lengths behind the winning horse Orsonian in the sixth race.

"A-Rod is slumbering at the back of the pack," track announcer Tom Durkin.  Joe Girardi couldn't have said it better.

The 28-1 longshot managed to catch a fading Tazered in the final yards and earned $267 for its owner Peggy Vandervoot.  A-Rod's career earnings have now reached $58,422 and include two wins in 18 races.  The horse's .111 average is just a nose behind the third baseman's .130 playoff average in the playoffs this season.

The two-legged A-Rod is 3-for-23  down the stretch this year.

"He started slow and stayed slow," said the horse's jockey Mike Luzzi — an avid Yankees fan.  "I guess the grass is better."

Both of A-Rod's trips to the winner's circle have come after racing on turf courses.

At least this frisky "A-Rod" can throw salt blocks requesting stable stall numbers to the fillies and he won't care who says neigh.