Anyone seen P-VAL???

[Dana666]

Anyone know what\'s up with P-Val?

I heard something about a back injury. Someone else said his agent jumped ship and he\'s out for the entire meet? Does anyone know anything about this???

I guess (without P-Val) apprentice Martin Garcia may well win the riding title --that would be something for the kid! Amazing that kid never got on a horse until a few years ago. Talk about a natural!

Del Mar\'s not the same without P-Val.

[Delmar Deb]

from Del Mar Stable notes for 7/20:


BACK PROBLEM COULD KEEP VALENZUELA OUT INDEFINITELY

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela apparently is facing the possibility of being away from racing for an indefinite period because of continuing back pain, his agent Tom Knust said this morning.
Valenzuela, who was excused from riding Wednesday, was expected to see a doctor in Los Angeles today for a diagnosis of the problem that surfaced first during the Santa Anita meeting and cropped up again during the Hollywood Park season. Knust said depending on the diagnosis, either a term of rest for the back or surgery could be the next step.
In the wake of the medical event, Knust has taken the book of jockey Corey Nakatani, as of Wednesday. Knust said he approached Valenzuela about the matter and Valenzuela gave him the go-ahead. Knust said he expects to handle business for both riders on Valenzuela's return.

[bobphilo]

From what I read, it\'s a bad back problem. He\'s getting it evaluated to see if he needs surgery or rest. He gave his the OK agent to handle Corey Nakatani\'s book while he\'s out, with the understanding that when he returns the agent will handle both jocks.

Bob

[miff]

Hope P.Val has a back issue and not the drug thing.Peerless on the left coast.


Mike

[davidrex]

Always thought or was told these two jocks really had it in for one another.
P Val used to mess up cori\'s face up all the time.Cori circulated petition signed by many fellow jocks to permanently bar Pat from the track.
Strange bedfellow;this agent.

[Delmar Deb]

per DRF article below, he passed daily drug tests...but will have back surgery.


Injury knocks Valenzuela from meet
By STEVE ANDERSEN

DEL MAR, Calif. - \"Jockey Patrick Valenzuela will not ride at Del Mar this summer because of a back injury, according to his agent, Tom Knust.
Knust said that Valenzuela was advised on Friday that the back injury will require surgery and that he could be out from four to eight weeks. If that time frame proves correct, Valenzuela could return for the start of the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting on Sept. 27.

\"He\'ll probably have to have surgery,\" Knust said. \"He won\'t be here at this meeting. They\'re going to run more tests on Monday or Tuesday.\"

Valenzuela, 43, has not ridden since July 16, the final day of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting. He finished second in the standings to Victor Espinoza during that meeting. Earlier this year, Valenzuela won the riding title at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.

Valenzuela was excused from his mounts from Wednesday through Friday at Del Mar and was not named to ride over the weekend.

Knust said that during the time he is off, he is also likely to undergo treatment for a recurring knee problem.

Valenzuela, who has a history of substance abuse problems, underwent daily drug tests from Wednesday through Friday at his home by California Horse Racing Board investigators and passed each test, Knust said.\"