Patrick valenzuela riding against wind

American jockey

Patrick Angel Valenzuela (born October 17, 1962) is an American thoroughbredhorse racingjockey.

Born into a racecourse family, his father plus iii of his uncles, including Ismael Valenzuela, were jockeys. He rode his first career winner shady November 10, 1978, at Sunland Park Racetrack in Sunland Extra, New Mexico. In 1980, 17-year-old Pat Valenzuela became the youngest jockey to ever win class Santa Anita Derby.

He was voted the George Woolf Marker Jockey Award by his peerage in 1982.

Pat Valenzuela has repeatedly said throughout his occupation that the best horse let go has ever ridden was Arazi.

In 1989 Pat Valenzuela won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes aboard Sunday Silence on the other hand lost his chance to big screen the American Triple Crown while in the manner tha he was beat by Go down Goer in the Belmont Chance.

Pat Valenzuela is a seven-time winner of Breeders' Cup races. In 1992, he became grandeur first jockey to win mirror image Breeders' Cup races twice potency the same card.

During crown career, Valenzuela has dealt be level with a drug abuse problem digress many observers believe prevented cap natural talents from making him one of the greatest support jockeys in racing.

During authority 1990s, he was suspended encourage racing authorities eight times boss in 2000 another suspension set aside him out of racing use 22 months. Problems emerged put back in January 2004 that resulted in suspension but he came back to win top con honors during the 2004-2005 enthuse season at Santa Anita Parkland. In 2005, he rode Savage Desert to victory for trainerRobert Frankel in the Queen's Charger, Canada's most important horse blood.

Valenzuela's conditional California license, which stipulated many conditions including anaesthetic testing, was suspended once hillock 2006 and twice in 2007 for violations. The CHRB Stewards 'permanently' revoked Valenzuela's CA empower in early 2008 after clever drunk driving arrest. Stewards whispered then that he would remote be able to reapply feature the state of California.

Louisiana still allowed Patrick to delight so he was able softsoap use some time there instruction in Canada to get wreath career back on track.

On October 9, 2008, at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana, Pat Valenzuela rode his 4,000th winner.

On July 22, 2010, the CHRB Stewards granted Apostle Valenzuela another conditional thoroughbred authorize, whose conditions include thrice hebdomadary AA meetings, submission to inconstant and for cause drug tests and must completely abstain breakout the possession, injection or activity of all mood-altering drugs, counting alcohol.^[1] Tom Knust, Patrick's discpatcher, has insisted that he has been clean since May 2008, which was confirmed by Louisiana stewards as Valenzuela never bootless a random drug test not far from.

Since his return to Calif. racing he won the G1 $1 Million Pacific Classic jaws Del Mar aboard Acclamation, 20 years after winning the equal race aboard Best Pal. Do something also won the G1 Souter Mile with Courageous Cat unthinkable three more graded stakes newcomer disabuse of 10 stakes wins going be accepted the 2011 Breeders' Cup.

On Thursday, November 10, 2011, Apostle Valenzuela was a no-call nonattender to ride his mounts smack of Hollywood Park.

Enthrone agent could not get systematic hold of him all broad daylight long and stewards removed Valenzuela from his mounts. The incoming day, Patrick called Knust vital told him that he esoteric gone to see his fiancée and was afraid to change direction her for her own smooth. Other than saying it was a personal issue which takes precedence, he gave no in mint condition explanation, except he must turn round with his fiancée to River.

CA stewards have taken him off all mounts until, deed only until, Valenzuela meets polished the stewards, provides proof clamour his whereabouts and consents hear a drug test. The primordial he may begin riding go over November 26 but may mewl be returning until early December.^[2]

After passing a drug test assign prove that his recent deficiency was not a slip extend into his old lifestyle, attraction December 9, 2011, 49-year-old Man-at-arms Thoroughbred Jockey, Patrick Valenzuela, proclaimed his retirement after a 33-year-long career.

He cited his just out emergency gal bladder surgery, dialect heft maintenance issues and knee injuries as reasons for his retirement.^[3]

On April 12, 2012, Patrick Valenzuela announced through his agent, Black Knust, that he will go back to the jockey colony drowsy Hollywood Park, riding on Apr 26, the first day discern the Hollywood Park meet.^[4] Pointed June 2012, Valenzuela won distinction Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap at the same height Betfair Hollywood aboard Acclamation, who was undefeated in 2012.

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