Jockey Patrick Valenzuela retires at 49
December 9, 2011LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who won the 1989 Kentucky Derby and Preakness aboard Sunday Silence, is retiring after a 33-year career that was marred numerous times by substance abuse problems and suspensions.
Valenzuela's agent, Tom Knust, said Friday that the 49-year-old rider was finished.
Knust said Valenzuela made the decision after recent surgery to remove his gall bladder, in addition to a battle to keep his weight down and knee problems.
He rode for the final time on Nov. 13 at Hollywood Park, finishing fourth in the day's eighth race. He had two winners during the current autumn meet.
Valenzuela rode 4,333 winners in his career, including seven Breeders' Cup races, and had purse earnings of $163,893,554, ranking 19th on the all-time list among jockeys.