Asmussen hearing postponed

The New Mexico Racing Commission granted a request on Tuesday by trainer Steve Asmussen to postpone a hearing scheduled for Wednesday to appeal Asmussen's six-month suspension for the finding of acepromazine, a tranquilizer, in a horse he trains who raced at Sunland Park in March, according to a commission official.

According to the commission's order, the hearing will be delayed until at least Oct. 1. The commission has 30 days to schedule another date for the hearing, Pamela England, a commission official, said Thursday.

Acepromazine, commonly used to sedate horses, is illegal to administer on race day.

Asmussen, runner-up the past two years in Eclipse Award voting for top trainer, is serving a separate six-month suspension for the finding of the nerve blocker mepivacaine in a horse who raced in Louisiana. The Louisiana Racing Commission approved that suspension with the provision that Asmussen not serve any other suspension during its term.