JOCKEY IN HAIRY SITUATION.Byline: Kevin Modesti Staff Writer Can Patrick Valenzuela avoid further run-ins with racetrack authorities as the Kentucky Derby-winning jockey returns from his latest long suspension? Only his hairdresser knows for sure. Valenzuela on Wednesday was granted a conditional riding license that gets pretty specific in its drug-testing demands, including the requirement he keep his hair long enough to permit hair strands to be tested for drug residue. ``To our knowledge, these are the strictest conditions ever imposed on a licensee to participate in racing,'' said Pete Pedersen, one of the three Santa Anita Santa Anita may refer to:
The granting of a license, effective today through Dec. 31, came five days after California Horse Racing horse racing, trials of speed involving two or more horses. It includes races among harnessed horses with one of two particular gaits, among saddled Thoroughbreds (or, less frequently, quarterhorses) on a flat track, or among saddled horses over a turf course with Board commissioners voted 7-0 to adopt an administrative law administrative law, law governing the powers and processes of administrative agencies. The term is sometimes used also of law (i.e., rules, regulations) developed by agencies in the course of their operation. judge's recommendation and overturn the suspension that cost Valenzuela the second half of 2004. Valenzuela, 42, who has fought drug addiction drug addiction or chemical dependency Physical and/or psychological dependency on a psychoactive (mind-altering) substance (e.g., alcohol, narcotics, nicotine), defined as continued use despite knowing that the substance causes harm. and served numerous suspensions since before he won the 1989 Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby One of the classic U.S. Thoroughbred horse races. It was established in 1875 and run annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs track in Louisville, Ky. With the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, it makes up U.S. racing's coveted Triple Crown. aboard Sunday Silence, was banished last summer after the Del Mar stewards ruled he tried to evade a ``hair follicle'' test by shaving the hair from his entire body. The Del Mar stewards punctuated their ruling by recommending that Valenzuela not be re-licensed. But administrative law judge administrative law judge n. a professional hearing officer who works for the government to preside over hearings and appeals involving governmental agencies. They are generally experienced in the particular subject matter of the agency involved or of several agencies. H. Stuart Waxman found fault with the ruling after determining Valenzuela didn't need hair strands to undergo a hair-follicle test. The new license agreement tightens the language pertaining to drug and alcohol testing. It requires him to ``maintain hair upon his head that is a minimum of 1 1/2 inches in length and is of sufficient quantity (minimum 150 strands/shafts) to submit a satisfactory sample for hair-strand/shaft testing.'' Valenzuela must undergo drug or alcohol testing when ordered, and spells out procedures for tests when he rides in other states. The Arcadia resident, who topped the jockey standings at every major meet at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar in 2003, said last week he is fit enough to compete immediately. Most likely he will return to racing Saturday at Santa Anita. Entries for that card are to be taken this morning. Agent Ronnie Ebanks reportedly has secured weekend mounts that include Mass Media in Saturday's San Fernando Stakes and A Song in A Minor in Sunday's El Encino Stakes The El Encino Stakes is a race for thoroughbred race horses held in the United States. The El Encino Stakes, run at Santa Anita Park each year, is open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. . Kevin Modesti, (818) 713-3616 heymodesti(at)aol.com |
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