Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy Fined £70,000, Banned 20 Months for Drink Driving

Multiple champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months after pleading guilty to driving under the influence and crashing his car into a tree in Hermitage, Berkshire. The incident occurred in April, and Murphy was found to have nearly twice the legal alcohol limit in his breath test conducted several hours after the crash. Despite the severity of the offense, Murphy expressed remorse and apologized to his passenger, the public, and colleagues in the racing community. The charge of failing to provide a roadside breath sample was dropped due to a misunderstanding. Murphy, who has continued to race successfully, including during Royal Ascot week, has been allowed by the British Horseracing Authority to ride before and after his court appearance. The judge acknowledged Murphy's remorse and the fact that no one was injured in the crash, but emphasized the gravity of his actions and their impact on public safety and the sport's reputation.