Rider draws knife, is barred

Stewards at Delaware Park have suspended jockey Jose Caraballo for 60 days after he brandished a knife at two other riders during an altercation in the jockeys' room on July 19.

Caraballo, 40, the second-leading rider at the Delaware meet, drew the knife after getting into an argument with Abel Castellano Jr. following the day's eighth race, in which Caraballo accused Castellano of rough riding, according to Delaware steward Jack Houghton Jr.

Caraballo also threatened Ramon Dominguez, the meet's leading rider, after Dominguez tried to break up the fight, Houghton said.

"They both were arguing," Houghton said, "and then Dominguez stepped between them, and that's when Jose took out a pocket knife and started waving it around and telling them all to back off."

Caraballo began his suspension July 23, the day the ruling was issued. Stewards also ordered Caraballo to pay a $2,500 fine, attend an anger-management course, and meet on a regular basis with a counselor for the Delaware's Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

Neither Castellano nor Dominguez was disciplined, according to Houghton.

Joe French, Caraballo's agent, said Caraballo has gone on vacation with his children and was not available for comment.