Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months after pleading guilty to a drink-driving offence following a car crash. The incident occurred in the early hours of 27 April, when Murphy’s grey Mercedes A-Class left the road in West Berkshire and collided with a tree. A female passenger in the vehicle was taken to hospital, though neither Murphy nor other parties were seriously injured.
The court heard that Murphy, 29, was found to have 66 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath nearly double the legal limit of 35 micrograms when tested around seven hours after the incident. The judge stated that Murphy was fortunate that no one suffered serious injuries and highlighted two aggravating factors: the collision and the fact he had a passenger in the car. However, acknowledging the jockey’s remorse, the court imposed a financial penalty rather than a community sentence.
In addition to the £70,000 fine, Murphy was ordered to pay a £2,000 surcharge and £85 in costs. His financial penalty was based on reported net winnings of £250,000 in 2024 and a weekly riding income of £1,250. The magistrate acknowledged that Murphy had “let the public down” and also disappointed his colleagues in the racing industry.
During the hearing, it was revealed that Murphy had initially failed to provide a roadside breath sample, which was later explained as a “misunderstanding” with the police officers on the scene. The jockey was reportedly visibly intoxicated and admitted to being the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash.
Murphy issued a public apology, stating he was deeply sorry for his actions and especially to his passenger and her family. He acknowledged that drink-driving is inexcusable and accepted full responsibility. While he declined to speak to the media after the court appearance, he confirmed his intention to fully cooperate with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) during its ongoing inquiries.
This incident is not Murphy’s first disciplinary issue. He was previously banned from riding for 14 months from December 2021 after admitting to multiple offences, including misleading officials and failing alcohol tests. Additional conditions were applied to his licence upon his return in February 2023, though it remains unclear whether those were still active at the time of this latest incident.
The BHA expressed its disappointment, stating Murphy’s behaviour posed serious risks and fell far below expected standards. It confirmed plans to review his licence conditions and possibly refer the matter to the Licensing Committee. Despite the controversy, Murphy remains eligible to race and is scheduled to ride in Friday’s $750,000 Belmont Derby in New York before returning for the Sandown Eclipse meeting in the UK.
