Trainer Juan Vazquez was arrested and charged with assault Monday following an altercation with rider Trevor McCarthy at Delaware Park.
Vazquez, who is leading all trainers in wins at Delaware Park this season, scuffled with McCarthy immediately following the fourth race. In that race, McCarthy’s mount, Fells Point finished second; Rock Slide Johnny, trained by Vazquez, ran fourth.
“Obviously there was a disagreement of some sort between the two, and a lot of people who saw it said they were surprised,” Delaware Racing Commission executive director John Wayne told The Blood-Horse.
Earlier on the card, McCarthy guided House Money to victory in the first — a win attained after his horse bumped with Winning Player, a horse trained by Vazquez.
McCarthy rode two more on the card following the fight, and he rode four at Parx Racing on Tuesday.
Vazquez has won 36 times from 215 starts in 2014, with purse earnings of more than $766,000. McCarthy, meanwhile, has 126 wins from 637 starts thus far in 2014.
In 2013, Vazquez received a 30-day suspension from the Maryland stewards for, according to their ruling, “being the aggressor in an altercation on the grounds of the Bowie Training Center.” That suspension was stayed provided he not be involved in any further altercations at Maryland’s tracks.
In addition to the investigation by the Delaware State Police, the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission stewards said in their daily report that they would convene a hearing on the altercation.
