Pat Valenzuela Suspended for Five Days

Jockey Pat Valenzuela was suspended for five days Thursday by the Santa Anita stewards because he violated California Horse Racing Board rule No. 1530--failure to follow established procedures for being excused from mounts.

Valenzuela, 30, has missed the last five days at Santa Anita and won’t be riding before the suspension begins Saturday. He will not be permitted to ride in designated races, either, and there are two in California this weekend--the San Francisco Mile on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields and the San Luis Rey Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita.

During his meeting with stewards Pete Pederson, Ingrid Fermin and Tom Ward, Valenzuela was told he will have to show evidence that he has initiated some type of counseling program with the Winner’s Foundation, which helps race track personnel with drug and alcohol problems. Valenzuela has had problems with substance abuse and was suspended for six months in 1990. A test for drugs Thursday was negative. He also was tested last Sunday at his home, and that was also negative.

Having missed 18 of the first 60 days of the meeting, Valenzuela called in Wednesday morning to ask if he could be late to the jockey’s room, because he wasn’t riding until the fifth race. He later called from his car phone and asked to be taken off the four horses he was scheduled to ride.

Corey Nakatani also drew a five-day suspension, beginning Sunday, after having been disqualified aboard Val Des Bois in the third race Wednesday.