P Val in Trouble Again
 

Patrick Valenzuela looks like he is in trouble again. He's in a mental health and drug treatment facility right now. When the CHRB learned about it, they asked him to submit to a drug test but he he was unavailable. That is grounds for an automatic revocation of his license. The CHRB has not decided what they're go to do yet. They won't decide until they talk to Patrick and find out what he has to say but I think he's in trouble. The condition that he was given when he got his license reinstated was that he had to submit to a drug test at any time he was asked. I think he's going to be suspended again and possibly get his license revoked.

Its the CRACK not his BACK, now???:confused:

Hope he gets the help he needs. Seems like a nice guy. Doubt he'll ever ride again.

That has been said before. The Steve Howe of horse racing.

Throw him out of racing. It is simple. Racing needs to make a statement here. Throw him out and increase the weight limits. SIMPLE.

chapter 27 of pvals bio...reads much like the first 26, on the wagon, off the wagon, trouble, chrb, treatment, back to riding...
that door that he keeps getting tossed out of--it's a revolving door, he'll be back for yet another go round.

Racing needs to make a lot of statements, and I don't put harshly punishing PVal at the top of the list. How about something more than a meaningless short suspension for trainers who cheat, for example?

PVal is certifiably sick. That doesn't excuse his behavior, but it does make me somewhat sympathetic. The trainers that are cheating have no excuse except greed.

I do agree with increasing the weight limits for jockeys.

--Dunbar

I agree with you about P Val. I would forgive him before I would forgive cheating trainers. He's only hurting himself. In addition, as long as he's tested every day and he's clean while he's riding, that is the main thing as far as I'm concerned. If he takes off for a few weeks, I'm not sure that it is necessarily anyone's business what he's doing while he's not riding.

interesting isn't it, the voracious appetite the CHRB has for pvals drug screens, and yet.....not so much for the horses. and the horses are the ones who are really the ones to watch, aren't they? it's not like the jocks are pumping themselves with steroids so they can carry the horses more quickly.

my, my....just think what things could be accomplished if the CHRB was as serious about testing horses for banned substances as they are about a jock who isn't even riding.

of course, either way, whether pval is back to his old tricks, or the trainer is caught cheating, they don't do a *#@!%$*& thing anyway, so why bother?!

Pat is a very likable character. I don't know what drug, drugs pat has a problem with, but they can be a real monster for some people. I wish anybody that wants to clean up all the luck and best to recovery. For me it's simple Smoker or Non smoker. Drugs or No drugs. The choice is yours.

Now that they are going to legalize personal use drugs in Mexico Pat can vacation for a month are blame it on Cabo San Lukas.

Time is catching up to Pat. He's only got a few more years anyway. The real problem for him is what does he do when it is really over? Write a book!

I have actually wondered what would happen if he wanted to take a 3 week vacation somewhere. Would the CHRB insist on him being tested even in another city?

PVal's drug of choice was coke which will come up negative on a urine test 1-3 days after ingestion. Given how fast a jockey's metabolism is by nature, it would be towards shorter duration.

from what i read after Pval failed to show for the Del Mar meet claiming a back injury....the CHRB came to his house and took 2 urine tests which would be 3-4 days after the Hollywood meet concluded. They then tried to return a third time for a hair folicle test which would show signs of use for a month plus. He was then unavailable and apparently in a hospital for undisclosed reasons. For the CHRB to come for the hair folicle test after the negetive urine tests they obviously had some angle they were working to warrant more testing.
Said hospital is now known to be a mental health and substance abuse facility in Pasadena.

Regardless I hope he gets well. I still hope to see him and Nakatani throw blows in front of the winner circle at Santa Anita one day..... dare to dream.

good point... I am in agreement. Horses, trainers, and owners get a slap on the wrist and a wink when they are caught obviously cheating.

But the poor jocks can't have 2 drinks on the plane before riding at Indiana Downs.

If I had to fly in to ride at Indiana Downs, I would want to drink a lot more than that.

Actually the current CHRB is doing much more than any of the previous boards. They are going after trainers much more aggresively than past administrations.

going after them at all would show more aggression than in years past! and the endless, never resolved appeals...it's ridiculous. look at that one jock currently in trouble for a whip violation, handed days several times now--but this is the first he's served.

I find the whole thing with PVal to be a direct violation of his constitutional rights. I know of no company or job where they come in to your home and test you whenever they feel like it. As far as him being in a mental health and rehab center, he obviously relapsed and put HIMSELF in the center knowing it would KO him probably for good. It was his choice, it wasn't forced. Means he knows hes sick and wanted to get better.
YOU can bet your ass if one of the guys or gals on that board did the same thing that it would be a "personal matter", as it should be between Dr. and patient. Robin WIlliams just checked into an alcohol and rehab center and I doubt that any studios will be not using him in movies when he gets out. Brett Favre was once addicted to painkillers and got help.
The added pressure of being under a microscope like that has definitely affected Pval. Like I said, show me a profession where they can come into your house and test you whenever they like. Its my feeling that what people do on their own time is their own business. If they show up for work sober and do their job, let the law enforcement officials handle any criminal acts or investigations.
The guy obviously needs help and ought to be commended for checking himself in to a clinic even though he knew it would knock him out for life. Know what could happen? I will tell you what could happen, he could get a gig with Coolmore or the Sheikh to ride in Europe or Dubai. They can't enforce US rulings there if they choose not to. I don't think anyone here has never screwed up and I bet we all are glad that noone comes to our houses to check out how we are living. This isn't the old communist Soviet Union here, this is the USA. Dr's and lawyers aren't even subjected to this type of scrutiny, but jockeys are? Does this not seem a little screwed up to anyone besides me? I don't know a single owner or trainer who knows this guy(I have never even met him) who has said a bad word about him. He apparently is enthusiastic with the owners and tries his ass off on every mount whether it be a claimer or a stakes horse. Its also always neat to watch him turn around his mount down the backside after a win, he pets the horse and slaps them on the neck all the way back to winners circle saying good job. I've never seen a single jockey do that other than Pval, not one. The guy obviously loves the animals he rides.
Its real sad, and the guy is the most tragic case of wasted talent I have ever seen. But hes got an addiction that I bet he wishes every morning that he didn't have. Hes never been accused of chicanery, and hes never hurt anyone but himself. Getting down on a guy whose just lost what he loves the most and his living is not for me. Wishing a guy like that ill will when hes already suffering is not what most people are all about, especially when the guy has never hurt anyone.

I agree. No need to kick a man when hes already down, and it sounds like Pat is really down. For those of you who have never been addicted to something and suffered as a result of it, thank your lucky stars and smile. But dont wish for further bad things to happen. Its not like he was taking performance enhancing drugs, he never had to. This guy has more talent than anyone out there riding, hes proved it on so many occasions. Reminds me so much of Chris Antley and I truly hope this has a happier ending.

Totally agree with you. The guy is seeking his own help, which is a step above most.

I mean the guy just decided to do something that he knew was gonna cost him his livliehood and his passion. Hes already been publicly humiliated so many times and I can't even imagine how he must feel right now. Then hes gotta have his dr./patient privacy violated? This is wrong, plain and simple wrong. Hes not on probation or parole, hes a US citizen. Since when does that board have the right to violate his rights? If hes in a center the whole thing should have been confidential than dealt with at a later date. This smells of vindictiveness and its a travesty. Announcing this serves no purpose and helps noone and does noone any good. I do not see the purpose of violating the guys privacy. Is it really as important as people trying to blow up planes?

Well, he's in a tough spot. I suppose it's part of the licensing process that all jockeys agree to testing and it's probably a condition of his numerous reinstatements that allows for the kind of scrutiny he's now under.

Jockeys have stress like everyone. However, they do not have the opportunity to enjoy food and water as do most people. So, it's not surprising many riders develop substance abuse problems.

I sure hope he licks his problems, whatever they are.

Personally, I think the CHRB has better things to be concerned about than PV, namely figuring how to fill a simple 2-turn N1X dirt race and the implementation and potential effect of running on artificial dirt.

How the hell they handle $15 mil on a Saturday out there with what they're running is a mystery to me.

By the way Tim, remind me never to move to California. Apparently out there some board of people who watch horse racing have the right to supersede rights guranteed to you by the US Constitution and violate the sanctity of Dr/Patient privilege. That doesn't sound like a place I wanna live in. If that was tried in NY you can bet your ass that one of the thousands of viciously good lawyers would sue someone, and sue them good.

Man, you guys are way too soft. I could care less about PVal seeking help on his own. The man shouldnt be riding if he is on coke. It is plain and simple. And I believe that PVal and the CHRB agreed that the CHRB could test PVAL at any point in time. They only go to his home after he doesnt show up for his test. I am positive that no US Constituional rights have been violated. Kick him out of racing. If a horse tests positive kick the trainer out of racing and fine the owner $1mm.

Last time I checked we didn't have gulags and last time I checked Dr/Patient confidentiality privileges still applied. Now if they went to test him and he was in a health facility they had no MOTHER****** right to announce or leak anything to anyone. NONE. They do hav the right to ask him for an explanation or a test when he gets out and ban him, but since he or his gaent didn't leak this, who did? No way this doesn't stem from the board who tried to test him. Its bull**** and its wrong. No horse racing board has the legal authority to violate his rights and his confidentialty and privacy privileges. legal authorities and law enforcement members do but not a horse racing board.

Sure they do. And what Dr/Patient privilege was violated?

So Euro lemme get this straight. If you check into a health center down in Ky to have something done, lets say you got the clap and had to go and get a penicillin shot, the Kentucky Horse Racing board could waltz in and ask for this info and leak it? I guess I don't live in the USA that you do. If a guy goes to get mental or medical help in the USA I live in he has rights that apply to confidentialty and its noone's business.

Well since no statement was given by Pval, his lawyer or his agent, it wasn't them who leaked this. Now who did? Give me a break, you can try and play devil's advocate if you wish but noone is going to believe that a board member didn't leak this. And thats 10000% unethical.

Are you an attorney?

No, but I think its pretty clear that he got screwed by someone. You don't have to be an attorney to know that Dr/Patient privileges apply and unless the CHRB has the authority to walk up to citizens and arrest them, I don't think they have the power to violate his rights. Call me nuts but I kinda love the whole USA and freedoms and rights thing that we have had going for 230 years. I think its kind nice to have those.

You're right about that. The CHRB has the right to request a sample and they also have the right to deny his license. But that's it. Was this in the press? I doubt it is because it's not publishable unless PV agrees to it being published. Probably backstretch rumor, though likely true. Still neither worthy nor appropriate to publsh.

Thats the summation Bruce of what I am saying. Noone is arguing that they have the right to ask for a sample and yank his liscense. But where else was the rumor started? Its not hard to make a guess is it?

No...but he did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.:D

I dont think the CHRB has stated anything. I think this is all specualtion. So the CHRB hasnt done anything wrong. Plus I wouldnt go to a facility in KY--lol.

Well the USA I live in is one that a person is innocent until proven guilty. I dont think we live in the same USA.

Where have I ever said anything to the contrary?

I'm not sure how his *doctor/patient* privilege was violated. Anything that is being said in this thread is just rumor and supposition.

P Val brought a lot of this on himself when he agreed to the lengthy interview piece that he did with DRF back a couple years ago.

The bottomline is that there should e NO tolerence for drugs in our sport, especially for the riders.....just my opinion.....he dug his own hole and now must live with the pressure for the rest of his riding career.....plus, it is not like he was a one-time, minor offender....he has a long ad harsh history with narcotics and we don't need that in our game...

They have been in the game probably since it started. It is a part that is never going away.