Horse Racing Fans..P.V messed up again at S. Anita

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Valenzuela no-show on Wednesday leads to drug test, CHRB investigation

Oft-troubled jockey Patrick Valenzuela did not show up for his scheduled five mounts on Wednesday at Santa Anita Park, which prompted a drug test for him on Thursday after a meeting with stewards and California Horse Racing Board investigators.
Initial results of the drug test were clean, but a lab will conduct further testing on the urine specimen Valenzuela submitted, said CHRB investigator Frank Fink.

Valenzuela, who was suspended for most of 2004 after failing to submit to a drug test, rode the first three races on Sunday’s card and then took off his last six mounts after complaining of foot pain. He was named to ride five horses on Wednesday, but he did not show up at the track, leading to a phone call to him from the CHRB inquiring as to his whereabouts.

Valenzuela’s agent Ronnie Ebanks blamed the absence on a miscommunication between him and the rider.

"Patrick sent me a text message to take him off his mounts because his foot was still hurting, but I didn’t get it," Ebanks said. "Then he gets a call from the CHRB at 1:30. Everybody was freaking out."

Valenzuela, who turned 43 on Monday, produced a doctor’s note on Thursday indicating he would not be able to ride until next week because of a nagging foot condition.

"He failed to fulfill his obligations yesterday and we’re trying to determine the facts surrounding that," said Oak Tree Racing Association steward John Hervuveaux.

Valenzuela, who has been battled substance abuse throughout his career, is riding under the terms of a conditional license that stipulates he be available for testing every day. Before Thursday’s racing, he ranked second in the Oak Tree at Santa Anita standings with 14 wins from 65 mounts.—Pete Denk
 

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He passed the drug test (field test) yesterday, doesn't sound like a big deal...

Oak Tree at Santa Anita
AWOL Valenzuela provides stewards with doctor's note
By STEVE ANDERSEN
ARCADIA, Calif. - Patrick Valenzuela provided Santa Anita stewards with documentation from a doctor on Thursday stating he could not ride through Sunday because of an ailing foot, according to stewards and Valenzuela's agent, Ron Ebanks.
Valenzuela was removed from his mounts prior to the first race on Wednesday when he did not appear at the track or contact the stewardsbefore the card began. According to the terms of his conditional license, Valenzuela must notify stewards if he does not appear to ride.

Valenzuela told the stewards Wednesday that he thought his agent, Ron Ebanks, had taken him off his mounts so he could see a doctor about his foot injury.

Valenzuela, whose career has been plagued by suspensions for substance abuse problems, might still face sanctions for not notifying the stewards of the injury before the start of Wednesday's card, according to Ebanks.

The stewards declined to comment on a potential sanction.

Ebanks blamed himself for not notifying the stewards of Valenzuela's absence on Wednesday, saying "it was a misunderstanding."

Valenzuela, 43, took off his mounts midway through the program last Sunday, complaining of a sore foot.

Valenzuela and Ebanks met with stewards John Herbuveaux, Kim Sawyer, and George Slender for approximately 30 minutes on Thursday morning to offer an explanation for the rider's absence. Valenzuela passed a urine "field test" for drugs that was conducted by California Horse Racing Board investigators on Thursday, according to a CHRB official. The CHRB later asked Valenzuela to return to Santa Anita to give another sample that would be sent to a laboratory for more extensive testing, the official said.

Under the terms of a conditional license Valenzuela must undergo random drug tests at the request of investigators or stewards. Prior to Thursday, Valenzuela was last tested on Oct. 7, according to a CHRB official.

Valenzuela is suffering from a sore tendon in a foot, Ebanks said. Ebanks said Valenzuela injured the foot while jogging on the racetrack before racing last week and complained of pain throughout the week.

"It was four days ahead of Sunday that I knew about it," Ebanks said, referring to the first day that Valenzuela missed. "The doctor advised against riding this weekend. We probably won't ride until Wednesday. His foot is not real good."

Ebanks said that Valenzuela has another doctor's appointment scheduled for Monday, and that the jockey expects to ride the Breeders' Cup program at Belmont Park on Oct. 29.

Valenzuela has four confirmed mounts for the Breeders' Cup - Starcraft (Classic), Hollywood Story (Distaff), Film Maker (Filly and Mare Turf), and Three Valleys (Mile), and may ride Ace (Turf), Ebanks said.
 

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Well that is good to see....The guy is so talented but the drugs have really put him in a box...And I'am sure one day they will get him again.........G.
 

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