Delaware commission upholds suspension of Cartagena

The Delaware Racing Commission on Thursday upheld a ruling by state stewards to suspend trainer Julio Cartagena for two years for a Class 1 drug positive, with the suspension likely to start after the first of the year, according to the commission’s top official.

Cartagena, who has had at least 30 rulings against him since 2005, according to a national regulatory database, has not started a horse since late December 2013 due to an 18-month suspension levied by Florida regulators. Under the commission’s Thursday ruling, he will be able to serve the Delaware suspension concurrently with the remainder of the Florida ruling, according to John Wayne, the executive director of the Delaware Racing Commission.

Wayne said the clock will not begin ticking on the Delaware suspension until the commission formally issues the ruling sometime in January.

The suspension was based on a September 2013 positive for nikethamide, an illegal stimulant in a class of drugs that carries the highest recommended penalties in racing.

Cartagena had 49 winners from 180 starts in 2013, with earnings of $822,560.