NM Trainer Vega Fined $10K, Suspended Five Years

Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse trainer Raul Vega, summarily suspended in New Mexico in March after one of his horses arrived in the paddock before a race at Sunland Park in troubling condition, was fined $10,000 and issued a minimum five-year suspension last week by Sunland Park stewards.

The five-year suspension, issued after a May 12 hearing, followed Erika Aldrete's Cause for Love Too , a maiden Thoroughbred filly, appearing in the paddock before the second race at Sunland on March 21 "with open wounds, signs of being underweight, and unfit to run" per track veterinarian Mike Perrone, a ruling stated. She was scratched.

Cause for Love Too became the subject of a warning notice from the El Paso County Animal Welfare Department.

According to Paulick Report, the filly had not been inspected the morning of the race at Sunland due to an ongoing shortage of regulatory veterinarians. She had raced once earlier at Sunland, finishing last of eight Feb. 24 in a mixed-breed race at 870 yards.

Stewards cited the trainer responsibility rule in their sanctions, as well as a New Mexico Racing Commission regulation meant to maintain the honesty and integrity of horse racing.

Following the completion of his issued five-year suspension on March 24, 2028, stewards ruled that Vega will be eligible to reapply for his trainer's license. Vega must go before the commission for approval to be reinstated, pass the NMRC trainer's test, and have his fine paid on or before June 11, 2023.

Vega has until May 22 to appeal the ruling.