I guess everyone knows immediately upon his return to racing in May/July he was suspended for, \"failing to provide hair follicle samples\". Apparently drugs leave \"long term\" traces in your hair. Valenzeula provided several urine tests and came up clean and then was asked for a hair sample and told the requesting body \"I\'m into my Chihuahua period, I ain\'t got none\". Hair follicle testing was required of him after his reinstatement and the officials suspended him for the remainder of the year. The state stewards are all over him. He seems to get a better shake from the CHRB and Courts.
I always assumed he relapsed and thats why he missed his subject drug test. He didn\'t want to be caught with a positive which the officials could point to and say \"This is why you\'re lifetime banned.\" It just seems to me they wanted to put him in \"double jeopardy\" on the hair sample when he served time on the underlying offense (missing the urine screening). Missing the tests was considered a \"positive\" for discipline purposes.
He\'s got a history, but they got their sights on him and he\'s getting good advice in my opinion. I hope he gets one more chance and cleans it all up. He can overcome the humans arrayed against him, I\'m not sure he can overcome his weaknesses though.
http://www.drf.com/news/article/61812.html
Best of Luck to him
CtC
PVal is the Steve Howe of Jockeys. Yes its a disease, and I hope he overcomes it, but would you or I get that many chances on our jobs? We would be lucky to get one chance.
of course you\'re right about the average joe not getting a break. I will say this, I think the \"impaired at work\" argument is absolute b.s.
I assume you mean he was not impaired while riding? I can agree with that. Most work related rules on the subject are BS, but we could go on and on......
How fitting . . .the \"Love Man\" Ronnie Eubanks as Psnort\'s agent. Guess he couldn\'t make it playing poker professionally. He and Sellers were a scary combo. Anyway, wish them all the best
Vegas odds on whereabouts of Their First Stakes Victory Celebration.
Scarletts: 4-5
Tootsies: 8-5
http://sports.excite.com/news/01072005/v4422.html