PVal update.....

[my miss storm cat]

From DRF.....


Del Mar
Agent: P. Val still in hospital
By STEVE ANDERSEN

DEL MAR, Calif. - Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who has not ridden since July 16, remains hospitalized in the Los Angeles area for undisclosed reasons, according to his agent, Tom Knust.
His prolonged absence has led California Horse Racing Board officials to seek opinions from the state attorney general's office as to whether Valenzuela has violated terms of his provisional jockey's license, according to CHRB executive director Ingrid Fermin.

"I asked for a review of the contract and I haven't gotten an opinion yet," Fermin said Thursday.

Part of the provisional agreement is that Valenzuela be available for drug testing. He has not been tested since he entered the hospital in late July. Valenzuela was tested at his home on July 19 and 20, and was admitted to the hospital on July 22, Knust said.

Valenzuela has ridden under a provisional license since the late 1990's.

Neil Papiano, Valenzuela's attorney, was not available for comment on Thursday.

Knust said it was unclear how long Valenzuela would remain hospitalized.

"I don't know, that's the question now," Knust said. "It will be until the doctor releases him. He's concentrating on what he needs to concentrate on."

He declined to elaborate on the reasons for Valenzuela's hospitalization. Asked if Valenzuela would ride this year, Knust said, "Hopefully, yes."

Valenzuela has not ridden since the final day of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting. When he failed to appear for the opening day of the Del Mar meeting on July 19, Knust said that Valenzuela was suffering from a back injury. At the time, he said Valenzuela would be out for six to eight weeks.

Valenzuela, 43, has a history of substance abuse problems. He missed the second half of 2004 because of a suspension related to an absence early that year. He returned to riding in early 2005.

[my miss storm cat]

From BH.....

California Stewards: Valenzuela Can Exercise Horses
by Margaret Ransom

Embattled jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who hasn't ridden since the conclusion of the spring/summer meet at Hollywood Park July 16, was given clearance to resume exercising horses Sept. 7 after meeting with Del Mar stewards the morning of Sept. 6.

Valenzuela, who had reportedly been battling a back injury and was briefly hospitalized for undisclosed reasons, met with the stewards for under an hour and also passed a drug test administered by California Horse Racing Board investigators. The "informal" meeting also included Valenzuela's attorney, Neil Papiano, and his agent, Tom Knust.

Steward Scott Cheney said that while Valenzuela has expressed interest in returning to the saddle during the upcoming Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet, which gets under way Sept. 27, no official permission or denial will be issued for several days.

"(Valenzuela) presented medical documents, which cleared him to get on horses (the morning of Sept. 7)," Cheney said. "The CHRB and the board of stewards will require more information from his doctors and other sources before we move forward. But he tested (successfully), and we will be conducting further testing this week."

For most of his career, 43-year-old Valenzuela has been in and out of the saddle due to substance abuse and/or personal problems. He captured the riding titles for all the major Southern California meets in 2003, and then sat out most of 2004 beginning in January following his failure to submit to a drug test after he took off his mounts without notice.

In April 2004, then CHRB chairman John Harris issued Valenzuela a stay of his suspension pending appeal, and a month later the CHRB unanimously ruled Valenzuela could return to the saddle with additional conditions attached to his license, including hair-follicle testing.

The rider returned for one day before he was suspended again for failure to provide hair for testing after he showed up to ride with his entire body shaved. In early August 2004, Valenzuela appealed to the board of stewards, and after three days of testimony from both legal and hair-testing experts, they upheld their initial ruling and recommended the rider not be eligible for further licensing in any capacity.

In November, 2004, an administrative law judge ruled the stewards erred in suspending Valenzuela and said they confused hair-follicle testing with hair-strand testing, thus the CHRB failed to correctly administer the test. Valenzuela was re-licensed in early 2005 and had ridden through the most recently concluded Hollywood Park meet without incident.

"I think it's fair to say we're proceeding cautiously," Cheney said.

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

From BH.....

California Stewards: Valenzuela Can Exercise Horses
by Margaret Ransom

Embattled jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who hasn't ridden since the conclusion of the spring/summer meet at Hollywood Park July 16, was given clearance to resume exercising horses Sept. 7 after meeting with Del Mar stewards the morning of Sept. 6.

Valenzuela, who had reportedly been battling a back injury and was briefly hospitalized for undisclosed reasons, met with the stewards for under an hour and also passed a drug test administered by California Horse Racing Board investigators. The "informal" meeting also included Valenzuela's attorney, Neil Papiano, and his agent, Tom Knust.

Steward Scott Cheney said that while Valenzuela has expressed interest in returning to the saddle during the upcoming Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet, which gets under way Sept. 27, no official permission or denial will be issued for several days.

"(Valenzuela) presented medical documents, which cleared him to get on horses (the morning of Sept. 7)," Cheney said. "The CHRB and the board of stewards will require more information from his doctors and other sources before we move forward. But he tested (successfully), and we will be conducting further testing this week."

For most of his career, 43-year-old Valenzuela has been in and out of the saddle due to substance abuse and/or personal problems. He captured the riding titles for all the major Southern California meets in 2003, and then sat out most of 2004 beginning in January following his failure to submit to a drug test after he took off his mounts without notice.

In April 2004, then CHRB chairman John Harris issued Valenzuela a stay of his suspension pending appeal, and a month later the CHRB unanimously ruled Valenzuela could return to the saddle with additional conditions attached to his license, including hair-follicle testing.

The rider returned for one day before he was suspended again for failure to provide hair for testing after he showed up to ride with his entire body shaved. In early August 2004, Valenzuela appealed to the board of stewards, and after three days of testimony from both legal and hair-testing experts, they upheld their initial ruling and recommended the rider not be eligible for further licensing in any capacity.

In November, 2004, an administrative law judge ruled the stewards erred in suspending Valenzuela and said they confused hair-follicle testing with hair-strand testing, thus the CHRB failed to correctly administer the test. Valenzuela was re-licensed in early 2005 and had ridden through the most recently concluded Hollywood Park meet without incident.

"I think it's fair to say we're proceeding cautiously," Cheney said.

WAAAAHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A victory for the rights of American citizens over a horse racing board!!!!!

Originally Posted by oracle80

WAAAAHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A victory for the rights of American citizens over a horse racing board!!!!!

Agreed. He is a non-violent drug offender, not a murderer or a rapist.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by oracle80

WAAAAHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A victory for the rights of American citizens over a horse racing board!!!!!

Hip Hip Horray!
Thanks for the good stuff.

[my miss storm cat]

Thrilled he's back.....

[Rupert Pupkin]

The article said that no permission has been given for Valenzuela to ride in races. It said a decision will not be made for several days. He has been given permission to ride in the morning. That's about it.