Norman gets six-month suspension

Trainer Cole Norman had two horses test in excess of the permitted levels of total carbon dioxide in the $150,000 Jean Lafitte Futurity at Delta Downs on Nov. 3, and for the second offense has been suspended six months in a ruling issued by track stewards. He has appealed the ruling to the Louisiana Racing Commission and the case is scheduled to come before the commission in January, according to stewards at Delta.

Norman won the race with Go Poppa Fooze, who was found to have exceeded the permitted level of bicarbonates in his system through a pre-race test sample. This was viewed as a first offense. The second offense concerns the pre-race test of Bayou de Storm, the fourth-place finisher in the Jean Lafitte who also had a bicarbonates overage, according to the ruling.

Both horses were disqualified. The purse has been ordered to be redistributed, but no action on that matter can take place while the case is under appeal.

Norman was fined $1,000 for the first overage, and for the second was suspended from Nov. 29 through May 29, 2007, a six-month period mandated by the rules of racing in Louisiana, said stewards. Norman can still race because the matter is under appeal. Go Poppa Fooze ran seventh in the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Jackpot at Delta on Friday, and his disqualification from the Jean Lafitte was announced at the track Friday.

An excess of bicarbonates in a horse's system can mean the presence of an alkalizing agent, which is believed to help a horse ward off fatigue.

Norman, 37, could not be reached for comment on Saturday. He operates one of the largest stables in Louisiana, and has won the past nine training titles at Louisiana Downs.