Court to hear Meche appeal

A Louisiana district court in New Orleans will hear an appeal June 19 filed on behalf of jockey Donnie Meche, who the Louisiana Racing Commission handed a year suspension in late April.

Meche's attorney, Sonny Garcia, filed the appeal May 23, contending that the commission erred in suspending Meche at an April 27 meeting.

The one-year ban increased by six months a suspension Meche was given this past winter by stewards at Delta Downs. Meche was charged with failing to do his best to win a race on Jan. 23 at Delta, when he rode Cleaning House in a trial race for the Graduation Futurity. Cleaning House, at 3-5, finished third in the trial, but came back two weeks later to win the Graduation final.

Cleaning House stumbled leaving the gate in trial, and both Meche and trainer Steve Asmussen contend that Cleaning House stepped on his hoof, suffering a grabbed quarter that affected his performance.