Oisin Murphy’s rise to fame as one of horse racing’s most talented and decorated jockeys hasn’t been smooth sailing to say the very least.
The Irishman has found himself embroiled in numerous controversies since emerging as one of the sport’s top dogs.
Murphy, 29, is a four-time British Champion Jockey with two Classic triumphs to his name and 33 Group or Grade 1 wins around the world.
He currently leads the 2025 British Flat Jockeys Championship with 57 winners from 227 rides so far, 22 ahead of his closest rival.
Oisin Murphy’s Controversial History Explained
June 2019: Stood down at Salisbury after failing a breath test
Just two days before the start of Royal Ascot in June 2019, Murphy failed a breath test for alcohol before racing began at Salisbury.
He was stood down for the day and received a caution. Luckily for him, it was his first offence so he was free to continue riding at Ascot 48 hours later – if it was a second infraction, he would’ve been suspended for ten days.
November 2020: First official ban following a positive cocaine test
In November 2019, Murphy was slapped with a three-month ban after testing positive for cocaine at Chantilly racecourse. He denied any wrongdoing and told a disciplinary hearing that the result was due to environmental contamination.
Murphy testified to France Galop, horse racing’s regulator in the country, that the positive test occurred because he had sex with a woman the day before who was an occasional cocaine user.
The jockey provided evidence from subsequent hair tests that found no trace of cocaine and said investigators accepted he had not taken the drug.
He managed to escape the standard six-month ban for a first cocaine positive due to his arguments.
October 2021: Stood down for a second time after failing breath test at Newmarket
Murphy failed a pre-race breath test for alcohol before proceedings at Newmarket in 2021 which led to him being stood down for the day for a second time.
It technically counted as his first offence for disciplinary purposes because it was over two years after the initial Salisbury incident, meaning Murphy avoided a ban.
The night before, tabloids reported Murphy threatened and assaulted a bloodstock agent at The Yard pub in Newmarket town centre.
The confrontation allegedly began inside the boozer before spilling out into the pub car park following the end of the October Yearling Sale at Tattersalls nearby.
February 2022: 14-month ban and £30k fine for numerous rule breaches
Just a few months after the October incident, Murphy was banned for 14 months after admitting to breaking Covid rules, misleading the British Horseracing Authority and prejudicial conduct alongside two alcohol breaches.
He faced a disciplinary panel of the BHA which detailed two failed tests for alcohol in May and October 2021. The May incident, a failed urine test at Chester, was not made public at the time.
Murphy didn’t contest any of the charges, admitting to alcohol issues and lying about his whereabouts in 2020 to the BHA. In September 2020, he went on holiday to the Greek island of Mykonos – which was on the Covid red list at the time – but tried to convince officials he had been at Lake Como.
August 2024: Reported to the BHA head office after missing a scheduled breath test
Murphy didn’t show up to Kempton racecourse in August 2024 when he was due to provide a breath sample. He later revealed he had given up his five rides due to having haemorrhoids.
It was initially reported he was absent due to feeling ‘unwell’ but the BHA held an enquiry to consider why Murphy had failed to arrive.
Murphy clarified the circumstances on social media, writing: “I’ve noticed blood in my breeches at the races recently and have needed to change numerous times.
“This morning I noticed more blood than I’d seen before. I’ve got haemorrhoids. I’m fine and I’ll be back riding tomorrow.”
July 2025: Pleads guilty to drink-driving charge, fined £70k
In June, Thames Valley Police announced Murphy was charged in connection with a serious road traffic collision in West Berkshire.
Two months prior, Murphy was arrested and released on police bail after crashing his Mercedes-Benz A-Class into a tree in the early hours of the morning on Sunday, April 27 which left his female passenger in hospital with severe injuries.
Earlier that day, Murphy had rode a treble at Leicester but missed a book of rides at Southwell on Sunday due to ‘travel issues.’ The next Monday, he was back in the saddle riding at Windsor.
He pled guilty to a drink-driving charge having tested ‘just shy’ of twice the legal limit for alcohol around seven hours after the crash. He refused to provide a roadside breath sample following the incident.
Murphy was fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months.
