61-year-old former jockey Pat Valenzuela, who hasn’t ridden since 2016 due to a knee injury, is contemplating a comeback after having his knee replaced and working with horses at Del Mar and Santa Anita, despite potential weight and licensing challenges.
‣ Pat Valenzuela, a 61-year-old jockey who hasn’t ridden since 2016, is considering making a comeback in horse racing.
‣ Valenzuela, who recently had a knee replacement, has been working horses at Del Mar and Santa Anita and claims to feel good.
‣ Despite his age and a history of substance abuse issues, Valenzuela is confident about his return and is prepared to answer questions about his ability to overcome these obstacles.
At 61, Pat Valenzuela hasn’t been on a horse since 2016. He recently had a knee replacement. Most folks would be kicking back, reminiscing about a career that took them to the top of their game. But not Pat.
He’s been busy with horses at Del Mar and Santa Anita. He’s feeling good and thinking hard about a comeback. “I’ve put on a few pounds, so I’m not sure about making the weight,” he admitted. “But I’m going to give it a shot. I’ll ride somewhere, be it New Mexico, Louisiana, wherever. I’ll give it my all.”
His last ride was on Dec. 8, 2016, at Fair Grounds. Then he tore his ACL. Even after surgery, something didn’t feel right. “The surgery was okay, but the pain lingered. It’s been bothering me for the last four or five years,” he shared.
He tried to get back on horses, but the pain kept coming back. “Last year, I was working with horses for Neil Drysdale. The pain got too much. I couldn’t bear it,” he confessed.
Realizing he needed a new approach to tackle the pain, he opted for a knee replacement in May. After the operation, he returned to the track, working as a hotwalker for trainer Antonio Saavedra. His knee started to feel better each day.
“It feels really good. I can’t believe how good it feels,” he said. “There’s no pain. Before, it was painful to get on any horse. It’s not like I have a brand-new knee, but it’s a lot better than it was.”
He took the next step and started galloping horses at Santa Anita and Del Mar. He’s been working with several trainers, including Peter Eurton and Peter Miller. “I’m getting a good response,” Valenzuela said. “I’m just grateful to be able to get on any horses. Most everyone has been encouraging. I’m not hearing anything negative from anybody. I’m just trying to keep it simple and moving forward. As far as the physical fitness part of it, I think it’ll will take me another month to 45 days to get ready. The weight is the most important thing. When you get older it’s harder to lose weight. I weigh 128 now. I am working hard and eating light meals. Usually one meal a day. Just trying to stay away from fats and saturated fats.”
Valenzuela, who’s had his share of substance abuse issues, said those problems are behind him. They’ve had nothing to do with his long absence from the track. If he makes it back, he’ll have to answer a lot of questions. Can a 61-year-old who hasn’t ridden in more than seven years overcome all those obstacles and be successful?
“We’ll have to see,” he said. “I will give it my best shot. I feel really good. I feel like I’m in a La-Z-Boy with a remote control when I’m on a horse. I feel like I’m at home. Who knows? I might be better. Gary Stevens came back after having a knee replacement and look how good he did. I don’t think the age will matter that much. I think it will be more about physical fitness and the horses I get to ride.”
Valenzuela is eager to ride again, but he’s not taking anything for granted. He knows his age, his lengthy absence, and his past might make some racing commissions hesitant about re-licensing him. He’d love to ride in California, but if that’s not possible, he’ll look elsewhere.
“I’ve ridden all over the country but I’d love to start back in my home state in California,” he said. “That would be the ultimate. But if I can’t ride in California I’ll ride anywhere I can. Maybe Louisiana or New Mexico. I know I can still get a horse to the wire.”
