Time for the permanent ban. I feel bad for anyone with a substance problem but I lose all sympathy rather quickly when someone risks other peoples lives driving around loaded.

That being said I am sure someone will license him.

It made me snicker too.

The DUI part can not be tolerated, but to take his job away. Rehab and only let him work horses with testing for drugs.

other jocks have lost their licenses for less, p val has had so many chances, and continues to blow them. pointing out that he is a troubled person who can't seem to help himself isn't kicking him when he's down, it's the truth.
the chrb is partly at fault with his continued issues, as they continue to give him 'one more chance'. so where is the incentive to get help?
much like cole norman, he won't do anything about the situation until HE feels there is a problem, and he is ready to do something about it.

i think p val should have to go thru a substantial program, and then remain clean and sober for a year after exiting that program, with clean tests throughout that year, before they even consider giving him a license again.

I agree, abit absurd really... He was'nt even riding a horse or near a racetrack... Personally, I don't think he should be punished at his job for driving a car drunk.. That should be a whole seperate deal. Be different if he failed a breathalizer at the track.

except that everyone seems to forget that p val agreed to all the stipulations in that deal with the chrb, in order to get his license. not for nothing is it called 'conditional'. he broke a condition of the license. besides, there are plenty of jobs out there that if you get a dui off duty, it can cost you your job--mainly anyone who drives for their company, whether a truck/18 wheeler or a company vehicle, etc, because the insurance co won't cover you.

The race track and party life is what Pat grew up in. Old habits are hard to break when the money comes so easy. He will regret this till the day he dies.

No jock is punished for that....unless, he has had a sordid past, filled with drug and alcohol problems, leaving owners and trainers in the lurch, etc....
Then you end up with the conditions laid out before him in order to ride again. He agreed to those conditions and broke them, end of story, end of P. Val.

As someone previously said, as long as they continue to license him, they are enabling him. What incentive does he have to get well if just sitting out for a period of time, passing the drug tests and taking a slap on the wrist is all he has to do to get back to riding?

Enough already.

except that we have seen others with problems beat them, without all the continued drama and back and forth. it's like a game to pval, beat the chrb. then he wants every one to feel sorry for him when he effs up again-oh, don't take his job away. hell, he's trying to give it away!

Well now is as good a time as any...

PVal should be in the Hall of Fame.

So what. The guy had a couple tall boys, he weighs 115lbs.

Dont think that will happen.

I think this is it for him.He had great talent,but I didn't see much left when he rode at HWD.He might of got one horse(that wouldn't normally have won) to win,but he didn't keep the horse strait at all.He got taken down.If people want to drive,they damn sure better be able to avoid still objects.I think he will end up working horses in the mornings,and living paycheck to paycheck.He has one back-up talent now,and that is conducting Bible Study Classes for substance abusers.

Bejarano gets the easy 3k in the 1st race(instead of original rider PVAL.) Costly...u dumb fkr......You know the fine will be like 2k or more(for a D.U.I.)That's 5k atleast you lost (cuz u a dumb fkr.)

his lifetime earnings.... can afford a limo....

Some much for that debate.:D

VALENZUELA COMING: Jockey Patrick Valenzuela will arrive at the Fair Grounds on Thursday and wants to begin riding by Saturday or Sunday, said Danny Gargan, who will be Valenzuela's agent.

Valenzuela, who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness on Sunday Silence in 1989 and who has seven Breeders' Cup victories, for years was among the best riders based in Southern California. He also has a history of substance-abuse problems and suspensions.

His latest problem came Dec. 28, when the California Horse Racing Board terminated the conditional license under which he was riding. He had been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol -- a violation of the terms of the conditional license.

http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/horse...260.xml&coll=1

Wonder who this agent is... Anyone heard of him before? Why on earth would he be P.V's agent after all the B.S? Be interesting to see what the Fairgrounds does. My guess is they say "No way"...

I would think he would have to have a Louisiana license before they would be brazen enough to send out a press release like this......Chuck?

He has a LA license. Reprocosity does not include non racing violations apparently according to the article. I've know PVal for a long time. A big part of his problem is that he has had some serious mental issues that went unaddressed for a long time. I would guess that they are still unresolved. I am not making excuses for him but he is closer to insane than sane, sober or otherwise.

That's incredibly sad.......you sound like you should be writing the insightful piece on this guy rather than all the agents and family he has friction with. I had never read someone say he is organically ill other than his obvious substance issues. In most businesses or professions if your addiction is active we give you time away until you establish your sobriety again. A shame it doesn't apply to jocks.