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
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