William Haggas has delivered a strong rebuke of Oisin Murphy’s riding style, accusing the five-time champion jockey of using tactics that amount to a “professional foul.” The experienced trainer argued that Murphy, while an outstanding rider, has repeatedly pushed the limits of fair competition and benefited from lenient stewarding decisions.
Haggas claimed that Murphy has been “getting away with blue murder” in recent years due to local stewarding panels interpreting instances of interference as accidental. He described a pattern of jockeys, including Murphy, deliberately allowing their mounts to lean across rivals in tight finishes, halting their opponents’ momentum and gaining an advantage at crucial moments of a race.
One particular example that angered Haggas occurred during a juvenile maiden at Sandown in August. In that race, Murphy rode Corinth, who crossed the line half a length ahead of Loz Vegas, ridden by Harry Davies. While Loz Vegas was later awarded the race following a stewards’ inquiry, officials concluded that the interference was accidental and blamed Corinth’s inexperience, describing the horse as “racing green.” Haggas, however, dismissed that explanation as “complete and utter madness,” insisting that the manoeuvre was deliberate and could easily have led to a serious accident.
He went on to compare such tactics to a cyclist cutting off a rival during a sprint, saying that once a horse is checked mid-run, it is nearly impossible to regain momentum. According to Haggas, these actions, often brushed aside as minor or unintentional, can have dangerous consequences if left unchecked. He warned that the sport risks normalising such behaviour among top riders, which could undermine both fairness and safety.
While Haggas’s criticism was pointed, he also suggested that the issue extends beyond any individual jockey. He argued that stewards bear responsibility for failing to take stronger action, often accepting explanations from riders without sufficient scrutiny. Haggas even proposed that jockeys should not be allowed to take part in stewards’ inquiries, claiming they naturally defend one another.
Murphy, who was competing in France over the weekend, has not yet issued a public response to the remarks. However, the comments have drawn significant attention within the racing community, reigniting debate over whether current stewarding standards are strict enough to maintain integrity and safety in British racing.
