Hollywood Park: Valenzuela a no-show

Benoit & Associates

Patrick Valenzuela celebrates his victory aboard Acclamation in the Pacific Classic.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Jockey Patrick Valenzuela failed to appear at Hollywood Park to ride on Thursday, leaving his agent concerned about his well being. Valenzuela was scheduled to ride five of the eight races on Thursday.

 "I don't know what's happening," said his agent, Tom Knust. "I've been trying to call him and get a hold of him."

Knust said that Valenzuela visited his girlfriend in the San Diego area on Wednesday and was expected to drive back to his Los Angeles area home on Wednesday evening. Knust said that Valenzuela was not scheduled to ride workouts on Thursday morning.

"I don't know what could have happened between last night and today," Knust said on Thursday afternoon.

Valenzuela, 49, is the senior member of the jockeys' room and has been a fixture among the top 10 riders in the Southern California circuit this year. At the recently concluded Santa Anita autumn meeting, Valenzuela finished in a tie for fifth in the standings. His biggest win this year came in the $1 million Pacific Classic aboard Acclamation at Del Mar in August.

Valenzuela has ridden regularly in Southern California since July 2010 after receiving a license through a stipulated agreement with the California Horse Racing Board that called for several forms of drug and alcohol testing. At the time, the racing board described the agreement as "unprecedented due to its continual nature and strict conditions."

Thursday, Hollywood Park steward Kim Sawyer said that Valenzuela will have to undergo a drug test when he returns to Hollywood Park.

Valenzuela rode in Louisiana and New Mexico from 2008 to 2010 after he was unable to secure a license in California. Valenzuela is well-known for winning the 1989 Kentucky Derby on Sunday Silence.