Valenzuela granted license as exercise rider

DEL MAR, Calif. – Veteran jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who has not ridden in any capacity since January 2014, can return to the saddle soon.

On Thursday, the California Horse Racing Board announced that the 52-year-old Valenzuela has been granted an exercise rider’s license in a stipulated agreement between the two parties. He will not be eligible to ride races through the term of his current license, through Oct. 31, the racing board said.

The announcement comes three weeks after the racing board voted in a closed session to deny Valenzuela’s request to be reinstated as a jockey and exercise rider after he failed to appear for mounts on consecutive days at Santa Anita in January 2014.

Valenzuela was suspended by Santa Anita stewards Scott Chaney, Kim Sawyer, and Tom Ward in March 2014 for the absences. At the time, the stewards said Valenzuela should not be reinstated in any capacity. He was fined $1,000 for missing his mounts.

During a hearing with stewards in March 2014, Valenzuela said his riding career was “done.” Valenzuela is appealed the case, which was heard earlier this year by a hearing officer who recommended to the racing board that Valenzuela be reinstated. The racing board rejected that proposal July 17 in a closed hearing.

In an interview July 31, racing board chairman Chuck Winner said the racing board would rehear Valenzuela’s case in a closed session. The stipulated agreement was reached before the racing board’s next scheduled closed session Aug. 20.

Valenzuela, who has won 4,347 races, is best known for winning the 1989 Kentucky Derby on Sunday Silence but has had a history of substance-abuse and personal problems that have interrupted his career.

In recent months, Valenzuela has attended races at Del Mar and Santa Anita and said he wants to have a role in the sport.