Two riders appealing Delta ban

Jockeys Jason Eads and Hector Santiago have each been suspended six months by the Delta Downs board of stewards for "giving money to the clerk of scales," in a case that will come before the Louisiana Racing Commission on Monday.

Both riders have appealed their rulings and have had their penalties stayed, according to Larry Munster, the assistant executive director of the Louisiana Racing Commission. The rulings were issued on April 16, and stem from the Thoroughbred meet at Delta that ended in late March.

Matthew Provost, the former clerk of scales at Delta, was also suspended six months by the stewards. His case is also scheduled to come before the commission on Monday. Provost was suspended in February.

A six-month suspension is the maximum penalty the state's stewards can levy, and the Delta board referred the three cases to the commission because they felt the penalties were insufficient. The cases will be part of an agenda that also includes date requests for some tracks in Louisiana.

Fair Grounds in New Orleans is seeking to return to its traditional Thanksgiving Day start for its 2010-2011 season. The track has requested 84 dates, with the Thoroughbred meet to run from Nov. 25 through March 27. Fair Grounds is also seeking approval to run Quarter Horses from Sept. 15 through Sept. 25, and on Nov. 19-20.

Delta Downs is seeking an 84-date Thoroughbred meet from Nov. 3 through March 26, 2011. Evangeline Downs is seeking a 46-date meet for Quarter Horses, from Sept. 28-Dec. 4.