For Valenzuela, California days are over

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela's conditional California license has been revoked, and he will not be able to reapply, according a recent California Horse Racing Board decision made public on Thursday.

At its monthly meeting on Sept. 18, the racing board adopted the proposed decision of an administrative law judge who said that Valenzuela's conditional jockey's license should be revoked and that Valenzuela "is permanently ineligible to reapply for, or to hold, a license issued by the California Horse Racing Board."

In July, at a hearing before the judge, Valenzuela asked the racing board to reinstate his conditional license. Valenzuelas license was revoked last December following a drunk driving arrest. He pled guilty to a charge for that offense in May and was sentenced to three years probation and fined $1,595.

Valenzuela was represented at the July hearing by attorney Neil Papiano. Papiano was not available for comment early Thursday afternoon.

Valenzuela, 45, has ridden at Louisiana Downs since late May. He holds a license to ride in that state because he had an active license granted last fall and has not violated any of Louisiana's rules of racing. Valenzuela has also ridden in New Mexico this year.