Patrick Valenzuela is injured in spill during Del Mar workouts

Veteran rider turned exercise rider Patrick Valenzuela was thrown while working a horse at Del Mar on Sunday morning and taken to nearby Scripps La Jolla Hospital for observation. 

The 62-year-old veteran was on a 3-year-old colt named Fire Mountain out of trainer Peter Eurton’s barn. Witnesses said the horse ducked in at one point, unseating Valenzuela.

“He hadn’t even gotten into the work yet,” Eurton said. “I was on the front side (near the grandstand) and they went behind the (infield) screen and when the horse came back into view there was no (Valenzuela) in the saddle.”

Valenzuela appeared to try to get up at first but then chose to take a seat under the rail until paramedics arrived. He was put on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.

“I talked to Patrick’s brother and he said he’s just a little body sore,” Eurton said. “It doesn’t look like there’s anything wrong with him.” 

Fire Mountain was fine and was back at Eurton’s barn.

Valenzuela rode on and off for more than 35 years after winning his first race in 1978. He had 4,372 winners and more than $166 million in purses. He rode dozens of major stakes winners, including scores in the 1989 Kentucky Derby and Preakness on Sunday Silence. He also won seven Breeders’ Cup races.

Since arriving at Del Mar this summer, Valenzuela has been working several horses for different trainers.

“He’s such a gamer,” Eurton said. “He wants to come back so bad. I wanted to put him on something as soon as he got reinstated.”