PVal update.....
 

From DRF.....


Valenzuela looking to Del Mar
By STEVE ANDERSEN

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who has not ridden since November because of a rib injury and subsequent knee surgery, said he has started a physical therapy program for his knee that could lead to a comeback next month.

Valenzuela, 44, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday that he hopes to resume riding when the Del Mar meeting begins on July 18, if his is physically able.

"I started physical therapy" on June 14, he said. "I'm hoping to come back pretty soon. I'm hoping to get back by the start of Del Mar. Hopefully, I can get back on the road to winning races."

The winner of 15 riding titles in Southern California since 1986, Valenzuela has not ridden since suffering fractured ribs in a paddock accident at Hollywood Park Nov.o26. Valenzuela underwent arthroscopic surgery on a knee in December. Valenzuela had hoped to make a comeback earlier this year, but postponed his comeback on several occasions.

"I wanted to ride at Santa Anita and I didn't give it enough time to heal properly," he said of the knee. "It's doing better than what it was. You don't heal as often as you do when you're younger."

Valenzuela said he recently saw Dr. James Tibone, who injected a lubricating jell into the knee and "told me to stay off of it until I start physical therapy."

Valenzuela, whose career has been plagued by substance abuse problems, is not currently licensed by the California Horse Racing Board. His license expired at the end of 2006. In the past, Valenzuela was issued a one-year provisional license that allowed the racing board to perform random drug testing. Earlier this year, Valenzuela said he would approach racing board officials regarding his license as he nears a comeback.

On Tuesday, Valenzuela said he has been watching the races occasionally, and is anxious to get involved.

"I can't watch that often because my blood starts to boil," he said. "I want to get back on horses. I'll take it one day at a time."

Thank you for the update.

Thanks for the post, PVal will tear them up and then (sad to say) probably ""slip"" again... :(

sure theyll license him again no matter what he does, hes had way too many chances and has gotten more than deserved simply becuz hes PVAL. i dont understand why anyone would be anxious for this guys return, he doesnt belong on the racetrack

If you were running a horse in California, Who would you want to ride your horse?

It's going to be Pat Valenzuela from 8 out of 10 owners.

Are you one of those religious nuts or have you lost lots of money excluding him off your tickets?

Why does he not belong on the racetrack?he WINS RACES,he has tested clean everytime for the CHRB,he has done nothing wrong.If anything,the CHRB should back off and treat him lie everyone else.

well I hope there are no more "injuries" for Pval

LMFAO ok i work in the industry and am a owner, my sole involvement doesnt involve gambling. i rarely bet california races whatsoever. when pval was making a comeback and julie krone was riding exceptionally well a few summers ago i was cheering them both on, they were both riding ata extremely high level and it was great to see!


LOL the CHRB should back off pval and tream him like everyone else? fact is hes recieved preferrential treatment, treatment that a average jockey would not recieve, fact is hes been givin way too many chances, many more chances than pretty much any other rider would recieve! pvals done nothing wrong? hmmmmmm thats funny whys he been suspended in the past? why did he "disappear" and why did he shave all his body hair off before? i guess you must be one of those who bout 5 years ago believed barry bonds wasnt on roids either LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


ive never ever denied pvals talent but if i ran a horse in california i would not want or allow him on my horse. there are other top jocks in this sport who overcame drug problems and had incredible careers like bailey, day and now garret gomez(who by the way handed pval his rear end in cali in the recent past), patrick has all the ability in the world and basically has it by its balls and he continually pisses his chances away..................HE SHOULDNT BE GIVEN ANYMORE

I know I shave my nuts every time I have a mandatory hair follicle drug test. I'm sure everyone does.

Then in about what 4 or 5 days are ya itchin like no tommorrow? lol.

not if you shave again 2-3 days later....

gotta keep the boys smooth:eek:

lol. I wish. It's more like 4-5 hours.

Hell, I shave my ears every 2-3 days. Don't get old.

Absolutely. I remember the time I yanked what I thought was a thread hanging from the bottom of my pants....

im starting to see those loose hairs pop up in my ears every now and then...scary sh*t getting old...

sure as hell beats the alternative!

LOL. I laugh at the sight of a hairless P. Val standing in front of the stewards and wonder how he could keep a straight face. :D

patrick has all the ability in the world and basically has it by its balls and he continually pisses his chances away..................HE SHOULDNT BE GIVEN ANYMORE
Time has taken it's toll and Pat will start to have problems getting the live mounts as he nears 50 years old.:cool:

id want him rideing my horse in cali..hes the highest of the spiecies..pinheadus -winnus..

No doubt. The top jock out there is Michael Frickin Baze for crying out loud. A few years ago it looked like he was going to be the guy with the shinebox at the track.

Is he the one in the Claritan (allergy) commercial

P Val has his problems, but he is a talent. I'd like to see him continue riding.
It's probably what keeps him alive. Many talents have let the blow ruin their careers/lives..Doc Gooden, Steve Howe, Darryl Strawberry, etc. etc. I always hold out hope that P Val types can beat their addictions, As far as the ball sack shaving.....ouch.

Pat is on the same highway that Darryl Strawberry took and at times worse. Rehab is not in his vocabulary.

Well, school's out...a lot more posting!;)

Haha no, that's not him.

I for one didnt miss him while he was gone , and to be honest I dont care if he rides or not , if they give him his liscence back oh well its not like they havent before.
Pat put the icing on the cake for me when Julie Krone was out here riding and she was kickin some ass and would have been leading rider if Pat wouldnt have appealed his 4 sets of days until Pamona , but being the classless puke that he is he just stalled until the time of his choosing , that goodness the stews dont let that happen anymore.

Total waste of talent... Could have filled the void of Pat and Jerry and Gary retiring if he's have held it together!!

Thansk for joining us Cowgirl. Welcome!

you are exactly right.

but let him stiff a favorite and they'll railroad him like TD Houghton

It is incredible how many times they let this guy back in the sport just because of "talent". How many executives at IBM would keep their job by continually failing drug tests and offering up ridiculous excuses and lies to cover your obvious addictions to drugs ?
I know that I would be out of a job pretty quickly...and this idiot gets his job back every time. PVal needs to be cut loose for good regardless of his talent...he may win races, but its hard to deny he's truly a loser.

How many executives in any fortune 500 company get drug tested? LOL. Come on now.

Give ME a friggin' break...LOL. How many need to be ???

I don't know. I leave stuff like that up to Judge Judy.

I guess when they start showing up for board meetings wasted or give presentations when totally baked its time to start the testing in earnest.

But hopefully a few of them can avoid getting nailed by giving themselves full body shaves.:)

As long as they aren't high on the job, and are making their employer plenty of money, i'm sure they wouldn't be as ignorant as the horse racing industry and single out one of their top employees.