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.