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.”

California Chrome's newest Triple Crown challenger — an opossum (VIDEO)

California Chrome was unfazed,  but millions of bettors might be skittish, after a wayward opossum ran next to the Triple Crown contender and came in ahead of the Derby and Preakness winner. 

The homely little critter briefly joined the majestic chestnut colt during his 1 3/4-mile gallop Friday morning at Belmont Park and came in first by a little pointed nose.

Assistant trainer Alan Sherman said the opossum's run not far off the outside rail and parallel to the colt's right flank, didn't make California Chrome lose focus.

"Nothing," Sherman said. "It didn't faze him. We get coyotes in California all the time, so it was no big deal.

"The track was a little heavier than it was, but he seemed to handle it fine."

Bandwagon bettors might take this as an bad omen but po' cat lovers — and there are a few — think this is a good sign.

California Chrome's Triple Crown bid could hinge on nasal strip: Report

You might want to call this losing by a nose — or at least the nasal strip on it.

Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome might abandon his Triple Crown bid if New York officials do not allow the colt to wear a nasal strip in the Belmont Stakes.

Trainer Art Sherman made no threats about the Derby and Preakness winner passing on a chance to become horse racing's 12th Triple Crown winner, but he suggested it was a possibility.

"I'd have to leave it up to the owners," he said Sunday. "I know they'll be upset."

While  California Chrome couldn't be stopped by a huge field at Churchill Downs or a tickle in his throat at Pimlico, this potential obstacle reared its head Sunday about whether the big favorite would be allowed to wear the breathing device in the Belmont Stake on June 7.

The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner is 6-for-6 for trainer Art Sherman since being equipped Dec. 22 with a Flair nasal strip, which helps horses breathe more easily. He was 2-for-6 before that. Sherman said the colt doesn't wear it while training, and that it was co-owner Perry Martin's idea to use it. Sherman said Martin might scratch California Chrome from a Triple Crown bid if he's not allowed to wear the strip, which is legal in virtually all of this country's racing jurisdictions.

"That's going to be interesting. Perry is funny about things like that," Sherman said. "It might be an issue. I'm not saying it will be. I'll let the owners make the decision.

"They allow it [in New York] in harness racing but not for thoroughbreds. That's bogus."

The Daily Racing Form reported that Martin Panza, the New York Racing Association's senior vice president of racing operations, said Sherman made a formal request to Belmont Park's stewards Sunday afternoon to allow California Chrome to wear the nasal strip, and that the decision was expected within 24 to 48 hours.

The New York State Racing Commission's thoroughbred rule 4033.8 states: "Only equipment specifically approved by the stewards shall be worn or carried by a jockey or a horse in a race."

"I don't know why they'd keep you from wearing it," said Sherman, who was surprised when informed of the rule Sunday morning. "But we'll cross that bridge when we get there."

Even if the strip were not allowed, it would be a stretch for the commission to scratch a horse just one victory from making history and in a sport which could really use the hype.

Sherman said he could run his star instead in the July 5 Los Alamitos Derby, joking, "Orange County would be pretty overcrowded that day."